Starmer to address postcode lottery for only drug available for debilitating pregnancy sickness condition
The prime minister was asked in the Commons on Wednesday by Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary if he would work with the Department of Health to end the "scandal".
Xonvea is the only drug approved in the UK to treat the extreme vomiting and nausea caused by hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which affects thousands of woman, about 3% of pregnancies, each year.
Some women have it for several weeks, some their entire pregnancy, and it can lead to dehydration, weight loss, and serious physical and emotional distress, with some so ill they are terminating wanted pregnancies.
Sir Keir said he would make sure Mr MacCleary has a meeting with a minister "to see what more can be done to get this treatment to patients who need it".
The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital with HG during all three of her pregnancies.
An inquest last year found a failure to provide adequate care to HG sufferer Jessica Cronshaw, who was 28 weeks pregnant when she took her own life, "contributed to her mental health deterioration".
The charity Pregnancy Sickness Support has found it is a postcode lottery to get Xonvea on the NHS, despite 84% of 800 sufferers surveyed by the charity reporting it to be effective.
Different NHS trusts and GPs have different rules on prescribing the drug, which costs the NHS about £28 for a 10-day supply - but £90 if bought privately.
Woman terminated pregnancy after Xonvea denied
Sarah Spooner, 32, terminated a pregnancy at 13 weeks in April after being denied Xonvea, which was first licensed for use in the UK in 2018, by her GP.
The 32-year-old optometrist, who had HG for 40 weeks with her first child, had to take a 50-mile round trip to a hospital to get a two-week supply.
After the second hospital trip, the prescription did not have a date so the pharmacy would not give her the drugs and she was feeling so much more ill than her first pregnancy she did not feel she could go on.
She twice booked a termination but could not go through with it before eventually deciding it was the only option.
A month later, her pharmacy told her it had an old prescription from her GP for Xonvea - the same GP who had said she could not have it.
"It just felt like my whole body was saying 'this isn't happening'," she told Sky News.
"When I went for the second attempt at a termination I was so upset they said they couldn't do it, and I said 'I don't really want it, to be honest'.
"I remember the woman saying to me 'worst case scenario you've only got another seven months of this' and I was thinking another seven months of this is going to kill me."
Mrs Spooner ran out of Xonvea the day before her third termination booking in Cardiff and was vomiting "non-stop" from 1am.
"Going in to pick up antidepressants - because of everything - from the pharmacy a month later and being handed the bag of Xonvea was just the most horrific moment of my whole life," she added.
She said the GP surgery investigated the incident, apologised, and has been very helpful since then, with her doctor pushing to get the health board to allow them to prescribe Xonvea at an early stage.
Mrs Spooner's GP said they could not comment due to patient confidentiality.
A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: "We're very sorry to hear of Mrs Spooner's experience. We do not underestimate how distressing this must have been for her and her family.
"After the family contacted us via our Putting Things Right process, we have been liaising with them and are in the process of conducting an investigation into their concerns.
"Our thoughts and sincere condolences remain with Mrs Spooner and her family at this very difficult time."
The Welsh government told Sky News: "We rely on the expert advice of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the guidance of the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG).
"The AWMSG published advice in 2019 which confirms that Xonvea is not recommended for use within NHS Wales, and NICE has published guidance on the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and concluded that the evidence supporting the use of Xonvea is very old, of low quality and does not show a convincing effect on symptom improvement."
1:23
'End this postcode lottery'
Charlotte Howden, who leads Pregnancy Sickness Support, told Sky News: "We welcome the mention of Xonvea and the postcode lottery at PMQs - it's a vital step forward for the thousands of pregnant women and people suffering from nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
"We've long called for urgent action on this issue. It remains an ongoing battle."
She added: "Xonvea is the only medication licensed in the UK for pregnancy sickness, yet access still depends entirely on where you live. Many local formularies continue to reject it based on cost, even though a week's supply is cheaper than a single GP appointment and vastly less than a hospital admission, which is all too common for those who become severely dehydrated.
"This isn't just poor care, it's a false economy. If the government is serious about prevention, long-term thinking, and equity, it must act to end this postcode lottery.
"A meeting with the responsible minister must now follow - and we are ready to share our evidence and experience to help drive meaningful change."
'Women deserve better'
Mr MacCleary told Sky News: "My own partner suffered with HG, so I know just how brutal and traumatic this condition can be. I first saw its devastating impact through her experience.
"Sadly, some women have even felt forced into terminations or have taken their own lives because they couldn't get the treatment they needed - and this is entirely preventable.
"That's why I asked the prime minister to urgently tackle this postcode lottery and meet with me and campaigners who've have been tirelessly working on this for years. Women deserve better - something must change."
Sarah Smith, MP for Accrington where Ms Cronshaw lived, said her death "brings into sharp focus the devastating impact HG can have".
She added: "Her story is heartbreaking and it underlines the urgent need to ensure fair access to treatments like Xonvea, wherever women live. I welcome the prime minister's commitment to working with ministers on this issue and will support efforts to end the postcode lottery for women facing this condition."
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Great Ormond Street Hospital surgeons forced to use mobile phone torches during surgery after power cut
Surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) for children were forced to use mobile phone torches during an operation due to a power outage, the NHS's safety watchdog has found. The leading children's hospital has faced ongoing concerns over the maintenance of its estate and operating theatres, which have led to water leaks and power outages, according to a report by the Care Quality Commission. The CQC warned of 'recurrent' problems, including a power outage during spinal surgery and ventilation failures. The watchdog's inspection came after GOSH faced scrutiny over the care of hundreds of children by orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabber. In its report, the CQC said it found concerns around 'surgical accountability and oversight' at the trust. The news comes as the NHS in England faces a £14 billion backlog in estate maintenance spending, meaning hospital buildings are facing issues which can impact patient safety and lead to the cancellation of operations. Earlier this year, the National Audit Office warned that around 5,400 clinical service incidents occur in the NHS each year due to building or infrastructure failures. The CQC report's findings into building failures, first revealed by The Sunday Times, said: 'Concerns were raised about the maintenance of operating theatres and equipment safety. A recent power outage during a spinal surgery procedure required staff to use mobile phone torches to complete wound closure. 'This incident, alongside reports of water leaks affecting electrical systems and theatre closures due to filtration failures, indicated ongoing issues with estates and facilities management.' The CQC report said the trust took actions to address the problems; however, it warned there were 'recurrent theatre maintenance failures that had resulted in delayed or cancelled surgical procedures, impacting patient safety and access to timely care.' A spokeswoman for the trust said the incident was caused by an electrical system power failure and that an external review had been commissioned. The trust told The Sunday Times the surgical lights immediately over the patient remained during the power cut, but that theatre staff moving around the operating theatre had to use a phone torch to avoid cables and find the equipment needed. The Independent has approached GOSH over the use of physician associates to fill doctor rota gaps. According to the think tank, The Health Foundation, the NHS needs its capital spending to grow by 10.2 per cent a year between 2024-25 and 2029-30 to address its maintenance backlog, to invest in technology, buildings and equipment to improve services. Following the government's spending review, the capital budget for the Department for Health and Social Care is expected to grow by £2.3 billion from £10.9 billion in 2023-24 to £13.2 billion in 2025-26. Hospitals across the country report incidents due to poor infrastructure or building issues. Last month, Gloucester Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust experienced an issue with its servers, which forced it to rely on paper ahead of a five-day junior doctor strike. According to the Sunday Times, in June, the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford was forced to close several wards and divert ambulances due to a burst pipe. St Helier Hospital in Sutton, which had to cancel urgent tests due to flooding, told the paper 'Our ageing hospitals are deteriorating faster than we can fix them — with issues such as floods, leaking roofs, and broken-down lifts, as well as buildings that have had to be demolished because the foundations are sinking'. Last year, the government identified more hospitals which had been impacted by a long-running issue of having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) across its estates – a total of 47 hospitals have been identified.
The Guardian
7 minutes ago
- The Guardian
UK to evacuate injured children from Gaza to receive NHS care
The UK government will evacuate seriously ill and injured children from Gaza to the UK for NHS treatment under a scheme to be announced within weeks. Ministers will enable children in severe need to receive taxpayer-funded care. Three children were brought to the UK this year through a private scheme by the charity Project Pure Hope. A government spokesperson said: 'We are taking forward plans to evacuate more children from Gaza who require urgent medical care, including bringing them to the UK for specialist treatment where that is the best option for their care. 'We are working at pace to do so as quickly as possible, with further details to be set out in due course.' More than 50,000 children have been killed or injured in Gaza since the outbreak of the war between Hamas and Israel in October 2023, according to Unicef data. Keir Starmer said last week that the UK was 'urgently accelerating' efforts to bring children over for treatment. The government scheme will operate in parallel to the initiative by Project Pure Hope, which was set up to bring sick and injured children from Gaza to the UK privately for treatment. Through the charity's initiative, Majd al-Shagnobi, a 15-year-old from Gaza, became the first Palestinian child to be flown to the UK for treatment for war injuries. He required complex facial reconstructive surgery after an Israeli tank shell destroyed his jaw when he was trying to access aid in February last year. His treatment at Great Ormond Street hospital in London is being privately funded by Project Pure Hope and is being carried out by a medical team who will all work for free. Earlier this year, the charity secured visas for two girls from Gaza – 13-year-old Rama and five-year-old Ghena – to have privately funded operations in the UK for lifelong medical conditions. News of the government's plans comes after domestic political pressure. More than 100 MPs signed a letter coordinated by Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, calling on ministers to evacuate 30 severely ill children to the UK for treatment. A foreign affairs select committee report at the end of July said ministers had 'declined to support a medical evacuation of critically injured children to the UK, involving coordinating travel permits, medical visas and safe transport to the UK, where the children can receive specialised care unavailable to them in Gaza'. The Guardian reported last month that the government was facing legal action from a law firm acting on behalf of three critically ill children in Gaza. Other countries have been faster to act. Italy has evacuated dozens of Palestinian children and families for medical treatment, with the first group arriving in January 2024. The Sunday Times, which first reported the story, cited a senior Whitehall source who said up to 300 children could be brought to the UK from Gaza under the government's scheme. They will be accompanied by a parent or guardian and their siblings if necessary, and the Home Office will carry out biometric checks before travel, according to the newspaper. Project Pure Hope welcomed the government's announcement and said it would be sharing its expertise from nearly two years of successful evacuations. 'Our blueprint can help ensure the UK acts quickly and effectively so that every child who needs urgent care has the best chance of survival and recovery,' a spokesperson said. The charity has been urging the government to create a scheme similar to the one established for Ukrainian refugees since November 2023. The UK has been working with the Jordanian government to airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza in response to the widespread starvation caused by Israel's blockade. Starmer has announced plans for the UK to recognise a Palestinian state in September before the UN general assembly unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank and commits to a peace process leading to a two-state solution.
Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Beloved grandma who ‘knew everyone' choked to death when care home staff gave her the wrong meal, inquest told
HEARTBREAKING END Beloved grandma who 'knew everyone' choked to death when care home staff gave her the wrong meal, inquest told Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BELOVED grandmother choked to death after being fed the wrong food in a care home. Joan Whitworth died at the Oaks Care Home in Northumberland after staff prepared her meal in a way which "did not comply with her diet plan". 3 Joan Whitworth, 88, tragically died after choking on her food Credit: NCJ Media 3 An inquest heard the grandmother was living at the Oaks Care Home Credit: Google Maps 3 The 88-year-old's meal had not been prepared correctly Credit: NCJ Media An inquest heard the 88-year-old had lived with her daughter Gillian but moved into the facility when her dementia progressed. When eating a meal on March 3, 2023, Joan began to display signs of choking. But the inquest heard how a care assistant did not intervene and had to ask another staff member for help to deliver back slaps and abdominal thrusts. And, CPR was not performed due to the "inaccurate understanding of a registered nurse". Read More CLIFF TRAGEDY Woman found dead at bottom of cliff hours after pair died near same spot Following the hearing, Northumberland's senior coroner Andrew Hetherington has written a "prevention of future deaths" report. The care home and NHS trust have 56 days to respond. The coroner concluded Joan died "in a care home as a result of choking". And in his written report, he outlined a total of six "matters of concern". Of these, one was regarding the NHS trust and five were directed to the care home's operator Hillcare. The first issue was found with the speech and language team. Joan's assessment had not been written down in a formal report, meaning observations of her eating had only been passed on verbally. The coroner also concluded that a nurse and care assistant at the home "were not in date with their training in Basic Life Support and First Aid at Work". The coroner added: "I am concerned that a chef in evidence at the inquest was not aware that breaded fish was not a suitable food stuff in the diet identified for the deceased. "I am concerned that other residents could be fed inappropriate food stuffs that are not in line with their identified diet plans." Bryan Smith, Joan's son-in-law, told ChronicleLive: "Right from the start, we knew what had happened - that they hadn't given her the right food. "We knew she hadn't been looked after. "The reason we have pursued this is that we knew what had happened." Bryan added how the family had been "shocked and astounded by the quantity and severity of the mistakes" that were highlighted in the inquest. He told how many families have shared similar "painful and shocking experiences". In a statement on behalf of the family read in court, they paid tribute: "Joan was a well loved character in Blyth. She was manager of Robson's shoe shop and then moved to the Water Board. "When we used to go shopping with Joan, it would take you an hour to get past the car park - as she knew everyone in Blyth with a tap or a pair of shoes!" A Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: 'All referrals to our speech and language therapy service are robustly triaged using a risk and evidence-based approach to inform the most appropriate care for that individual. This includes information on the referral form and discussion with the patient and / or those who care for them daily to gather the most up-to-date information. "We cannot comment further on this case due to patient confidentiality, but would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Whitworth's family and loved ones." A spokesperson for The Oaks Care Home said: "We acknowledge the Coroner's report relating to the death of Joan Whitworth at our home in March 2023. Our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones. "Following the incident, we carried out a full review and made all necessary changes to our practices and procedures. These have been in place for some time and will be reflected in our formal response to the Coroner's report. The safety, dignity, and wellbeing of those in our care remain our highest priorities."
