Calls grow over compensation for victims of pelvic mesh and sodium valproate scandals
England’s patient safety commissioner, Professor Henrietta Hughes, is urging the government to provide compensation for individuals harmed by pelvic mesh and the drug sodium valproate. According to Prof Hughes, the government has failed to provide a substantive response to her recommendations for a redress scheme, which included proposed interim payments of £25,000 starting in 2025.
Why is the government facing pressure over pelvic mesh and sodium valproate?
The pressure stems from “avoidable harm” caused by medical treatments, according to the Hughes Report. Transvaginal mesh implants, used between 1998 and 2020 for incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, caused debilitating injuries that forced some women to have their bowels or bladders removed.
The NHS restricted the use of these implants in 2018, limiting them to last-resort cases. Simultaneously, sodium valproate—a drug for bipolar disorder and epilepsy used since the 1970s—is linked to lifelong learning difficulties and birth defects in an estimated 20,000 families.
What did the Hughes Report recommend for compensation?
Professor Hughes proposed a two-stage redress scheme to address systemic failures and gaps in patient support. The report suggested that victims should begin receiving interim compensation payments by 2025.
Based on patient feedback, the report identified £25,000 as the median amount patients considered appropriate for an interim award. Prof Hughes stated these recommendations were “direct and actionable” to ensure fair and accessible routes to compensation.
How have affected patients and campaigners responded?
Kath Sansom, founder of Sling the Mesh, stated that thousands of women suffer “devastating, irreversible injuries” from treatments they trusted. Sansom argued that victims should not have to fight through courts for justice regarding “a piece of plastic mesh that has shattered their lives.”
Tom Shillito of Epilepsy Action described the lack of progress as “extremely worrying.” He noted that some families have waited over 40 years for recognition and are now concerned about who will provide support as they age.
What happens next for the redress scheme?
Professor Hughes has written to No 10 seeking more information under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act. The government has been given a response deadline of July 16.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated that the government is “carefully considering” the recommendations in collaboration with other departments. A formal update may be provided in due course, though no specific date was given.
Future progress could depend on whether the government adopts the two-stage redress model or proposes an alternative compensation framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sodium valproate and who does it affect?
It is a drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is known to cause birth defects and lifelong learning difficulties, impacting an estimated 20,000 families since the 1970s.
What was the suggested interim payment in the Hughes Report?
The report suggested an interim award of £25,000, which was the median amount patients stated would be appropriate.
Why was the use of pelvic mesh restricted?
The NHS restricted its use in 2018 after the implants caused debilitating harm, including cases where women required the removal of their bladders or bowels.
Do you believe government-led redress schemes are more effective than individual court cases for medical harm?