Latest news with #HenriettaHughes
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The birth defect scandal bigger than thalidomide: 'Forgotten' mothers of children left disabled by epilepsy drug taken during pregnancy fear kids will 'die in poverty' without compensation
Mothers of children left disabled by a controversial epilepsy drug have warned their kids could 'die in poverty' without compensation as they fight for justice over a scandal 'bigger than thalidomide'. Since the 1970s, it has been known that sodium valproate can harm babies in the womb, yet alarmingly it has continued to be prescribed to pregnant women for the last five decades. An estimated 20,000 children were exposed to the epilepsy drug while in the womb and many are now adults living with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. Families have told MailOnline how successive governments have 'forgotten' about them and they now fear their children will be helpless and poverty-stricken when they are no longer around to support them. One mother, whose five children have all been left physically and mentally disabled by valproate, said: 'This is a man-made scandal and tragedy. The whole of Westminster knows about this scandal... this is an insult to our children.' In February 2024, families whose lives have been altered by the scandal were given a fresh glimmer of hope when England's patient safety commissioner called on the Government to compensate those affected. Dr Henrietta Hughes recommended a £100,000 payout after describing the drug's damage as a 'bigger scandal than thalidomide', referring to the morning sickness drug which led to thousands of mothers giving birth to disabled babies. Ministers said they would consider and respond to the recommendations but a deafening silence has left mothers fearing they have once again been forgotten - as they fight for compensation while they are still alive. The Hughes report came after Baroness Cumberlege published a lengthy review into sodium valproate and two other medical interventions in 2020, which highlighted the denial and dismissal of patient concerns. The Government issued an official apology in 2021, but the mothers fighting for justice want 'action not words'. Campaigners have proven that concerns over sodium valproate, commonly known by brand names Epilim, Episenta and Depakote, were first identified in the 1970s but the drug only started to be restricted by the government in 2018. They ruled that valproate must not be prescribed to women or girls of childbearing potential unless they are on the pregnancy prevention programme. It came after the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said up to four in 10 babies were at risk of development disorders if the drug was taken during pregnancy and and one in 10 at risk of birth defects. A drug safety update in January 2024 stated that women and men under 55 should not be prescribed the drug unless two separate specialist agree there is no other effective treatment. But for many families, the restrictions have come far too late. They have laid bare the decades-long struggles they have faced as a result of taking sodium valproate, as their children, many now adults, continue to deal with the consequences. They have watched MPs finally address miscarriages of justice ranging from the Post Office scandal to the infected blood scandal and believe they must be immediately compensated for 'the biggest medical scandal there is'. Emma Murphy - 'It's an insult to our children who were knowingly harmed' Emma Murphy epitomises the true horror behind the scale of the valproate scandal. She was just 12 years old when she was diagnosed with epilepsy and was prescribed sodium valproate - widely regarded as one of the best drugs to control seizures. But while the drug was working well for her, she could never have imagined it would lead to her giving birth to five children whose lives have been changed by physical and mental disabilities. Ms Murphy's children have all been diagnosed with Fetal valproate spectrum disorder (FVSD) and are affected in various ways, with diagnoses of autism, cerebral palsy, incontinence, deafness and speech and language delay. Now 44, she is demanding her children are compensated for being deprived of a normal life and missing out on the opportunities that their peers have had. In a heartbreaking interview with MailOnline, she said: 'This is a huge scandal but it is relatively unknown. It is the biggest medical scandal that there is.' Ms Murphy and her husband Joe had their five children, Chloe, 21, Lauren, 20, Luke, 19, Erin 17, and Kian, 15, in close succession, with the first born in 2003. They were never warned that taking valproate while pregnant would risk any birth defects. But when they were born, they were delayed in reaching milestones and suffered with delayed speech, walking difficulties and dysmorphic facial features. Ms Murphy said she kept questioning it with doctors but was 'always fobbed off'. That was until 2009, when her sister called her and broke down in tears to tell her there was a woman on the news appealing for mothers to come forward if they had been on valproate. That woman was Janet Williams. Ever since their two-hour emotional phone call, they have been campaigning in Westminster for justice and compensation. Ms Murphy told MailOnline: 'It's abhorrent. There is so much anger that this has been allowed to happen. They knew about this in 1973 and purposely withheld their warnings. 'We are just so angry it's been allowed to actively continue. The regulators knew the risks, the government knew the risks, yet nothing was done until me and Janet started campaigning.' Speaking about the 'devastating' impact it's had on her children's lives, she added: 'It is life changing for them. They struggle so much on a day to day basis, like all the other valproate children, life is really difficult. It's just heartbreaking. 'The difficulties they all face, there is no support for anyone really. It does fall down to the parents to support the children, services are just not there anymore. That is why we fight and campaign so hard for compensation. 'This was purposely allowed to happen to them and it shouldn't have happened. They should be compensated, they've missed life chances, socialisation, not having friends.' Ms Murphy said it is 'just as big as the thalidomide scandal', adding: 'A precedent was set that the children damaged by thalidomide should be compensated - exactly the same should happen to the valproate children. She said not compensating the families is 'compounding the harm that has happened', adding: 'Janet and I have been campaigning for 14 years in Westminster. 'We shouldn't be waiting this long, they are dragging their heels. It is furthering the insult to our children and families. This should have been answered immediately. 'So many prominent MPs know about this, the whole of Westminster knows about this scandal. 'We do [feel forgotten]. When a government and medicine regulators have purposely disabled children, I think there should be very swift action. 'These children are disabled physically and mentally. They caused this. This is a man-made scandal and tragedy. They should support them.' Janet Williams - 'This is bigger than thalidomide' Janet Williams was just 16 when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. She was prescribed valproate in the mid-1980s in a decision which would shape her and her children's lives forever. The mother-of-two, who is 60 today, has been campaigning relentlessly for justice after both of her sons, Phillip and Lee, were diagnosed with foetal valproate spectrum disorder (FPS) as a result of absorbing the drug she was prescribed. Speaking about the scale of the scandal, Ms Williams, from Lancashire, told MailOnline: 'It is massive, it is huge. It is bigger than thalidomide without a shadow of a doubt. 'We have worked in the past with the thalidomide campaign team and even they have said when it comes to numbers, this is bigger than thalidomide.' Ms Williams said her sons are now in their 30s yet are still dealing with the consequences as adult men after she took the drug for 10 years, including during her pregnancy. 'When our eldest son [Lee] was born, within 12 hours he showed signs of withdrawal. We didn't know what it was at the time. He was very shaky and jittery, he wouldn't take his feed. He was very sleepy, very floppy.' Lee was rushed off to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and spent seven days there as he battled through the withdrawal from valproate. Ms Williams said there was absolutely nothing said to her about how it would affect him in later life. Their second son, Phillip, was born 16 months later in similar conditions, but it wasn't until he was one and Lee was about two-and-a-half that they were both diagnosed with FVS. Ms Williams said: 'It was a mixture of emotions. You're upset, worried and frightened about what is going to happen to them and angry at the fact that they've not told us about it [until then].' Ms Williams and her husband Steven could see their children were not reaching the usual childhood milestones, including speaking and walking. Lee was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and ADHD at the age of 10, while Philip was diagnosed with dyspraxia aged seven. 'The problems that they're having now is what they've always had,' she said, discussing the daily fights her sons, now aged 35 and 33, face. She said after they finished college and university and stepped into the world, 'they didn't have a clue'. Talking about Phillip, who is worse affected, she added: 'He's constantly reliant on us as a family to help support. 'I think it's going to be really difficult for Philip to look after himself as he gets older. And once me and Steve are no longer here, that onus is obviously going to get put on his brother and that's a major worry.' Ms Williams, who was awarded an MBE for her tireless 30-year campaign about the harmful effects of valproate, says she is 'more upset than angry' these days. 'It's upsetting to think that they've allowed it to go on as long as they have with so many children being harmed, knowing full well they could have put a stop to it,' she said. 'It's upsetting to think just how many children have been harmed in the way that Lee and Philip have been.' Ms Williams says they are concerned that women are still having babies while taking valproate and the estimated 20,000 affected babies could be even higher. She fumed at those shirking responsibility for the scandal, including the doctors and drugs companies and has called for the Government to stand up and address the report by the end of the year. Catherine Cox - 'My son could die in poverty' Catherine Cox told MailOnline it is 'criminal' that her son has been forced to live with four types of epilepsy, ADHD and autism after she gave birth to him while taking valproate. She fears her younger daughter has the 'burden of responsibility' to look after her older brother in later life - or he could 'die in poverty' without compensation or support. The 52-year-old, fom Keyworth, South Nottinghamshire, was prescribed the drug after being diagnosed with epilepsy in 1988 when she was 16. She married her husband, Darren, in 1995 but the couple struggled to have children - something put down to her taking valproate. The couple were forced to undergo fertility treatment to have their first child as Ms Cox was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis. But Ms Cox was advised it was fine to continue taking valproate. 'There were ample opportunities to warn me and transfer me to another drug,' she said. When she gave birth to her son Matthew in 2001, the major complications began. 'He had quite a difficult birth. It was 31 hours. He wasn't breathing when he was born. He was effectively drugged when he was born. He was withdrawing from the drug after he was born. He was a very sleepy baby.' By nine months, Ms Cox could see her son was not meeting his milestones and was falling behind his peers. When she came across research that warned children born to mothers on valproate had a risk of developmental issues, she felt like the 'rug had been pulled away'. The distraught mother booked an appointment but claims she was patronised and told: 'Don't be so stupid. You need to stay on it, don't you know you could kill a baby if you come off this medication?' The couple found another GP who were far more responsive to their concerns and Matthew was eventually diagnosed with FPS when he was 18 months old. Ms Cox was moved onto different medication and the couple had another child, Charlotte, six years later who is now 17, having lived a normal life without the disabilities Matthew faces. 'But what she has got is a burden of responsibility,' Ms Cox said. 'Because successive governments have ignored this issue and kicked it down the line. 'There is a deficit to make up for my son, and for all of these children, we will provide for them while we're alive, but what happens to them when we're dead? 'And that is my question to the government. What happens to to my son when we're dead, because at the moment the burden of responsibility will fall on my daughter. Matthew is just about able to work part-time in a bakery, but has been unable to secure a full-time job elsewhere as he is 'knocked out at the first point' in any aptitude tests. 'Life is not set up in the 21st century to support children with vulnerabilities and young adults with vulnerabilities, and my fear is that someone will either take advantage of Matthew, or he will die in poverty because he's not provided for,' Ms Cox added. Ms Cox hit out at politicians who fight for them when they are the opposition but fail to act when they come to power. 'They have a duty to do something for our children, an absolute obligation,' she said. Patricia Alexander - 'Our kids are going to become forgotten victims' In 1997, Patricia Alexander was diagnosed with epilepsy and prescribed Epilim to control her seizures. A year later, at age 20, she was told she would never be able to conceive as she was suffering from gynaecological issues. At her young age, she was not thinking of having children but within three years she was suddenly pregnant with her husband. It was a moment described as a 'miracle' by her mother. But the family could not have predicted that Joseph, now 24, would be born with a number of disabilities that have shaped his life. Nine years later, they had another child, Amelie, who has also suffered at the hands of valproate. Ms Alexander, from Canvey Island, Essex, recalls being actively encouraged to carry on taking valproate so that her seizures would not have an impact on the baby. 'My seizures at that time were uncontrolled and they did have the opportunity to take me off that medication and try something different, but they didn't. 'It's just really terrible to think that that's what's happened to both my children as a result of not being told anything, despite asking several questions at several hospitals and to several clinicians.' 'She described the scandal as a 'postcode lottery', revealing how her friend in a hospital around 10 miles away was informed of the dangers. She added: 'I feel angry because at no point in any of this was I given an opportunity to have an informed choice for myself. 'Nobody said to me, "These are the risks if you want to have a child on this medication, we're going to need to take you off it first". 'I was denied that and I'm angry at that, because as a result of that, our children now have to live with this for the rest of their lives. Not the doctors, not the government, us and our children. 'No matter how much I think this, this isn't my fault because I didn't know and I wasn't given the information, the guilt is still there because I'm the one who ultimately took that medication that has harmed my children.' It wasn't until Ms Alexander stumbled across a Facebook questionnaire asking for women between 15 and 55 who were taking valproate to come forward that she first discovered the scandal. 'It was almost like it had been written about my children', she said. Both children been delayed in reaching milestones, have hypermobility issues and had delays with speaking and toilet training. They were diagnosed together with FPS on Amelie's 7th birthday, when Joseph was 15. There were major complications with both births. Ms Alexander had a very long labour with Joseph, who was extremely sleepy, could not regulate his temperature and suffered breathing difficulties. With Amelie, she was resuscitated at birth and suffered with hearing problems that have continued throughout her life. Today, Joseph still struggles with choosing what clothes to put on in the morning and needs assistance with everyday tasks such as crossing the road. He has a shortened achilles which means he physically can't stand up straight and has to walk on his tip toes. Speaking about the lack of support from the Government, she said: 'It's almost like they are going to become forgotten victims. These children are victims of circumstance. This isn't anything that has been done deliberately to them. 'The reason the children are having so many difficulties is because the information wasn't provided to us. The Government have been pushed into a corner, they can't deny their decisions are the reason that this has happened. 'The evidence is quite clear that Janet and Emma found, that it was purposeful. Everything was intentional to avoid telling women. Women even now are not being told. 'It's been moved from one Government to another. There's nowhere they can run but in the meantime it's us families that are dealing with our children and the life support they need.' Ms Alexander fears that a cutback on benefits could be detrimental. She said: 'If I wasn't there to support them, the benefits would not be enough to help them survive. 'They have suffered harm as a result of someone's purposeful decision to not tell us so they need to now step up and support our children. They have a whole lifetime ahead.'
The Independent
26-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Martha's Rule is ‘reducing harm' as thousands seek second opinion, MPs told
Thousands of patients or their loved ones have sought a second opinion about their NHS care under the Martha's Rule initiative, MPs have heard. Families have described how the lives of loved ones have been saved by the scheme and MPs have been told that it is 'improving safety' and 'reducing harm'. More than 100 patients have been taken to intensive care 'or equivalent' as a result of Martha's Rule, the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee was told. The initiative, named after teenager Martha Mills who died in 2021 aged 13, gives patients and their loved ones the right to a second medical opinion. Patients, their loved ones or staff have raised concerns about care using Martha's Rule on more than 2,000 occasions, patient safety commissioner Dr Henrietta Hughes told the committee. The initiative was launched in April last year in the name of Martha, who died from sepsis after suffering a pancreatic injury when she fell off her bike. Her mother Merope Mills and her husband Paul Laity sounded the alarm about their daughter's health a number of times, but their concerns were brushed aside. A coroner ruled she would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs of her rapidly deteriorating condition and transferred her to intensive care earlier. So far 143 hospitals in England have signed up to the Martha's Rule pilot scheme. Ms Mills has called for the initiative to be rolled out across the whole of the NHS. Patients have reached out to the family to describe how the lives of their loved ones have been saved thanks to Martha's Rule. She said: 'I'm very pleased with the progress that has been made with the implementation of Martha's Rule. 'More than 100 people escalated to ICU or equivalent is a really significant number and I've heard directly from people who feel a family member's life has been saved in this way, including an NHS nurse who was struggling to have her voice heard. She believes her husband is alive thanks to making a Martha's Rule call. 'What we really need now is to see Martha's Rule extended to all hospitals around the country. Everyone needs to have access to this service, which is changing NHS culture by giving patients more power, costs very little but has a huge impact.' Dr Hughes told the committee: 'What's been fantastic around this is that the engagement not only of family members being able to escalate concerns, and we've had over 2,000 calls, which have led to more than 300 patients having an improvement in their care, and over 100 ending up being escalated to ITU or equivalent. 'I think it really shows that the patients and families have really valuable information that we can listen to, and if we act on that, then we improve safety and we reduce harm to patients, but also we improve things like staff morale, reduce numbers of complaints, etc.' She added: 'So Martha's Rule is an initiative which was started after the tragic death of Martha Mills, and it's about giving patients and families the opportunity to get a rapid review if they're concerned about deterioration of the patient. 'It's been piloted in 143 hospital sites, and it's about giving the staff the ability to act on their clinical judgment, but also for patients and families if they're concerned that they're not being listened to, to be able to get a review from a critical care outreach team.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Martha's Rule is ‘reducing harm' as thousands seek second opinion, MPs told
Thousands of patients or their loved ones have sought a second opinion about their NHS care under the Martha's Rule initiative, MPs have heard. Families have described how the lives of loved ones have been saved by the scheme and MPs have been told that it is 'improving safety' and 'reducing harm'. More than 100 patients have been taken to intensive care 'or equivalent' as a result of Martha's Rule, the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee was told. The initiative, named after teenager Martha Mills who died in 2021 aged 13, gives patients and their loved ones the right to a second medical opinion. Patients, their loved ones or staff have raised concerns about care using Martha's Rule on more than 2,000 occasions, patient safety commissioner Dr Henrietta Hughes told the committee. The initiative was launched in April last year in the name of Martha, who died from sepsis after suffering a pancreatic injury when she fell off her bike. Her mother Merope Mills and her husband Paul Laity sounded the alarm about their daughter's health a number of times, but their concerns were brushed aside. A coroner ruled she would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs of her rapidly deteriorating condition and transferred her to intensive care earlier. The NHS is rolling out a patient safety initiative called 'Martha's Rule' which enables patients and families to seek an urgent review if they are worried about their or a loved one's condition. This will undoubtedly save lives in the future. — NHS England (@NHSEngland) February 21, 2024 So far 143 hospitals in England have signed up to the Martha's Rule pilot scheme. Ms Mills has called for the initiative to be rolled out across the whole of the NHS. Patients have reached out to the family to describe how the lives of their loved ones have been saved thanks to Martha's Rule. She said: 'I'm very pleased with the progress that has been made with the implementation of Martha's Rule. 'More than 100 people escalated to ICU or equivalent is a really significant number and I've heard directly from people who feel a family member's life has been saved in this way, including an NHS nurse who was struggling to have her voice heard. She believes her husband is alive thanks to making a Martha's Rule call. 'What we really need now is to see Martha's Rule extended to all hospitals around the country. Everyone needs to have access to this service, which is changing NHS culture by giving patients more power, costs very little but has a huge impact.' The #RoyalOldham Hospital is a pilot site for Martha's Rule. This patient safety initiative empowers patients and their families to request an urgent review if they have concerns regarding a patient's deterioration and how it is being responded — Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) (@NCAlliance_NHS) March 13, 2025 Dr Hughes told the committee: 'What's been fantastic around this is that the engagement not only of family members being able to escalate concerns, and we've had over 2,000 calls, which have led to more than 300 patients having an improvement in their care, and over 100 ending up being escalated to ITU or equivalent. 'I think it really shows that the patients and families have really valuable information that we can listen to, and if we act on that, then we improve safety and we reduce harm to patients, but also we improve things like staff morale, reduce numbers of complaints, etc.' She added: 'So Martha's Rule is an initiative which was started after the tragic death of Martha Mills, and it's about giving patients and families the opportunity to get a rapid review if they're concerned about deterioration of the patient. 'It's been piloted in 143 hospital sites, and it's about giving the staff the ability to act on their clinical judgment, but also for patients and families if they're concerned that they're not being listened to, to be able to get a review from a critical care outreach team.'
The Independent
28-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Delaying redress for mesh scandal could end up costing taxpayers, warns MP
Delaying redress for victims of the pelvic mesh 'scandal' could end up costing the public purse, a Conservative former Treasury minister has warned. John Glen on Thursday called for a Commons debate about valproate and pelvic mesh, telling MPs that 'we must move on this matter'. Thousands of babies are thought to have been harmed by sodium valproate use during pregnancies since the 1970s, a drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder which is now known to cause birth defects and lifelong learning difficulties. Pelvic mesh used to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse is also thought to have caused complications and harm for thousands of women – possibly more than 200,000 in England – between 1998 and 2020. A report by Patient Safety Commissioner Henrietta Hughes published in February last year recommended that victims of harm should start to receive compensation payments this year. Mr Glen told the Commons: 'It has now been a year since the publication of the Patient Safety Commissioner Hughes Report, which highlighted the devastating impact of valproate and pelvic mesh on thousands of woman and then children. 'Given my experience on the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (as a Cabinet Office minister) and given what I learned from (policing minister Dame Diana Johnson) when she was sat here in opposition, please can we have some time to discuss this? 'The further delays that could occur will cause enormous additional anxiety but also expense to the taxpayer. 'We must move on this matter.' Commons Leader Lucy Powell replied from the despatch box: 'He does raise a very important issue that has been raised as he said by colleagues with me before recess on the Hughes Report and the valproate and pelvic mesh scandal, which I know is a big issue in the last parliament. 'I know the minister has met with families and is considering in great depth the report, and I will absolutely ensure that at the earliest opportunity the House is given a full update on these matters. 'And I look forward to him from those backbenches as well continuing to raise that with me if that doesn't happen.'
The Independent
07-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Safety Commissioner highlights ‘injustice' over lack of redress for mesh scandal
Ministers have been urged to give financial compensation to women affected by the mesh scandal as the Patient Safety Commissioner expressing her disappointment over a lack of action to date. Last year, Dr Henrietta Hughes highlighted that thousands of women's lives were 'destroyed' because of pelvic mesh and said that there was a 'clear case for redress' for thousands of women and children affected by vaginal mesh implants and sodium valproate. She said the Government should create a two-stage financial redress scheme – an interim scheme and a main scheme. It is very disappointing that women who have suffered so much harm are still waiting for redress Dr Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner But campaigners said they have 'faced silence' in the year since the report was published. Dr Hughes said: 'It is very disappointing that women who have suffered so much harm are still waiting for redress. 'This is an injustice as it augments the original harm they suffered. They need redress now and the Government must act immediately.' Kath Sansom, founder of the Sling the Mesh campaign group, called on the Government to urgently act on the report's findings. Ms Sansom told the PA news agency that women's lives have been 'irreparably damaged' by mesh, with many unable to work or reduce their hours due to chronic pain and disability. But despite this, no compensation scheme has been put in place to help those affected, Ms Sansom said. Kath Sansom, Sling The Mesh She said: 'For a year, we have waited for action, but all we've received is silence. 'The Hughes Report made it clear that financial redress is essential. 'It is unacceptable that the Government continues to turn a blind eye to women who have lost their health, their jobs, and their quality of life through no fault of their own. 'The time for excuses is over – we need action now.' Transvaginal mesh implants were used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence after childbirth. However, in some cases they have caused debilitating harm to some women. Side effects have included infection, pelvic pain, difficulty urinating, pain during sex and incontinence. MP Sharon Hodgson, chairwoman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for First Do Harm, said: 'A year on from the publication of the Hughes Report which calls for a redress scheme for women impacted by the mesh and valproate scandals – the Government are yet to issue a response. 'I will not rest until these thousands of women and families get the justice they deserve. 'They have been let down by a system supposed to protect them and as a result will suffer lifelong physical and mental barriers – they will never be the same again. 'While financial compensation cannot reverse this damage, it would at least provide confirmation to them that – contrary to the gaslighting and dismissal they have received – they were right to raise concerns, that they were wronged, that it wasn't their fault, and that they deserve better.' Alison Fuller, from the charity Epilepsy Action, said: 'It's been a year since Hughes report led by the Patient Safety Commissioner on redress options for people harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex area of work and Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron met with some of those affected before Christmas, and has committed to providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner at the earliest opportunity Department of Health and Social Care 'For the first time, the report sets out the options to provide redress for people harmed by sodium valproate, when risks weren't communicated effectively. 'These families are struggling immensely, not just from an emotional standpoint, but from a financial one, too. They have been for decades. They simply can't wait any longer. 'Yet a year on we still have no clear timeline for a response to the recommendations. We're aware the Government has acknowledged it and committed to considering it. But the people affected deserve more than that.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'The harm caused by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh continues to be felt today. Our sympathies are with those affected and we are fully focused on how best to support patients and prevent future harm. 'This is a complex area of work and Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron met with some of those affected before Christmas, and has committed to providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner at the earliest opportunity.'
