Health Minister Maria Caulfield and senior health officials will appear before MPs following concerns that pregnant women are still being prescribed sodium valproate despite its known risks as a cause of birth defects or developmental delays. This session will also follow up on the Government’s progress against recommendations made in the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety report, including surgical mesh.
Meeting details
Campaigners for families affected by the drug will give evidence along with campaigners on behalf of the “Sling the Mesh” campaign. MPs are examining whether a pause in the use of vaginal mesh implant surgery to treat stress-urinary incontinence should be made permanent.
The session will focus on government progress on accepted recommendations in the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety (IMMDS) Review, ‘First Do No Harm’.
The government rejected its call to establish an independent redress agency to compensate women and children harmed by medical intervention. Committee Chair Steve Brine MP has called on the Secretary of State Steve Barclay to explain a decision not to fund additional care and support for those eligible as a result of experiencing avoidable harm.