Mims Davies, MP for Eastleigh, was delighted today to hear the Secretary of State for Health, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, give a statement addressing oral hormone pregnancy tests, vaginal mesh implants, and the prescription of sodium valproate to pregnant women.
“I have campaigned on these three issues since being elected, including writing many letters to Ministers, meeting with colleagues in the Department for Health, and raising them directly at the top, at a meeting with the Prime Minister at Number 10. I was therefore delighted to hear that the Government is making positive progress on dealing with these problems which have caused immense suffering to so many people, including in the Eastleigh constituency, which we heard first from Theresa May at Prime Minister’s Question Time, and then in a statement from the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, afterwards.
“I am also pleased that Baroness Cumberlege has been chosen to lead a review into what happened with these three cases, and find out why it has taken so long to respond substantively to concerns that were raised and see if independent regulators were properly engaging with patients, as well as deciding whether or not to recommend a fuller, or statutory, public inquiry.
“I have been contacted by many people across the Eastleigh Constituency about oral hormone pregnancy tests, sodium valproate and vaginal mesh implants, and so I am incredibly pleased that the Government is listening to them, taking their concerns seriously and is determined to take proper action to ensure that it does not happen again.”
The Secretary of State for Health, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, announced that he has asked the Department for Health to drive forward and, where possible, accelerate the recommendations of the oral hormone pregnancy test (Primodos) expert working group which reported earlier in the year, to offer families affected a full and up to date clinical evaluation, better information for pregnant women and their families, better training and support for obstetricians and better evidence around dosing recommendations.
In the lead up to the EU Review on Valproate expected to be published in March, the Secretary of State said that a new warning symbol on valproate packages would be introduced, that the DfH would push for valproate to be contraindicated for women of childbearing potential not using effective contraception, that alerts would be strengthened across all GP and community pharmacy systems, and for those women for whom valproate is an effective treatment, stronger and more tailored advice on risks and contraception would be offered.
Whilst the Secretary of State decided against a full ban on vaginal mesh implants after hearing advice from the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, he announced that a retrospective audit will be published to investigate the links between patient level data to explore outcomes, and that the Government will invest £1.1 million to develop a comprehensive database for vaginal mesh to improve clinical practice.
Earlier on, the Prime Minister had said,
“I was very pleased to meet my right hon. Friend and, indeed, my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Mims Davies) to discuss this issue. I recognise that the lives of many individuals have been affected by this. There are very powerful stories of these individuals. I know this has been a concern across the whole House. The concerns raised by campaign groups about not just Primodos, but issues such as vaginal mesh and sodium valproate, have highlighted that there is an issue with our regulatory and healthcare system, and we are determined to address it. I have been clear that we need to do better. I was very struck by the powerful stories I heard. We need to see a faster, more understanding response when patients raise concerns.”