Pelvic Mesh and Sodium Valproate: Redress
Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Contributions
Chris Coghlan (Dorking and Horley) (LD)Liberal Democrat
12. Whether she plans to implement a redress scheme for people harmed by pelvic mesh and sodium valproate.
The Minister for Public Health and Patient Safety (Dame Diana Johnson)Labour
I am aware that a number of right hon. and hon. Members are very interested in this issue, and as the new Minister for Public Health and Patient Safety, I am driving the work and giving the report by the Patient Safety Commissioner the urgent and thorough consideration that it requires. As has been stated, the Government are committed to making meaningful progress in this Parliament, and we are advancing non-financial redress to improve health service support for those affected.
In 2006 my constituent, Ruth, had pelvic mesh implanted. It has corroded and caused her severe pain. She has been desperate for me to raise this issue with the Government. Three years ago, she paid for surgery to remove it but that has left her tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket and she requires more surgery. What steps is the Minister taking to implement the recommendations of the 2024 Hughes report, particularly if we are to give justice to pelvic mesh patients and support to those who cannot access the NHS compensation scheme?
I am very sorry to hear about Ruth’s experience and what she has gone through. Just last night, I watched the film that has been produced about the experience of a number of women—my hon. Friend the Member for Washington and Gateshead South (Mrs Hodgson) provided a screening of it in Parliament last week—and the stories in it are harrowing. As I have said, I am looking at the issue. I am conscious that right hon. and hon. Members are interested in what the Government are going to do. The previous Secretary of State had made it clear that progress would be made by the end of this Parliament. That is as far as I can go today, but I am personally looking at this issue.
Dr Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab)Labour
From pelvic mesh to diethylstilbestrol, women have been harmed by a health system that has not and still does not listen to them, as starkly illustrated in Mumsnet’s recent report, “Medical Misogyny: A Lifetime of Failure”. Does the Minister agree that tackling medical misogyny must be at the heart of how we rebuild the NHS?
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. That is why we have revised the women’s health strategy. It makes it very clear that medical misogyny is not acceptable and that women’s voices must be heard.
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 5420667.