News

The Patient Safety Commissioner for England has today published her strategy for 2026-2028, setting out an ambitious programme of work to make medicines and medical devices safer and ensure patients’ voices shape decisions across the healthcare system.   Building on the progress made during her first term, the strategy focuses on three interconnected priorities: improving safety and regulation, supporting informed patient decisions, and advancing equity, justice and patient safety leadership.   The strategy outlines practical action to address some of the most pressing patient safety challenges facing healthcare today, including strengthening safeguards around remote prescribing, improving medicines information, enhancing monitoring of medical…

The Patient Safety Commissioner, Prof Henrietta Hughes, has written to No.10 to request further information in relation to the Hughes Report exercising her statutory powers under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act for the second time since her appointment. The deadline for a response to her request is 16 July.   Specifically, Prof Hughes has asked for information on:  Internal and cross-government discussions held in relation to the Hughes Report, including ministerial and official-level meetings, engagement and correspondence.   Actions taken beyond DHSC in response to her recommendations, over and above the information previously provided including policy decisions and considerations of feasibility and cost.   Future plans and – crucially – clarity on outstanding actions in order for Ministers to make a decision on redress and the timetable for a full response to her recommendations, as well as details of relevant planned work.   The Commissioner said: “Nearly two and…

The Patient Safety Commissioner has continued to seek clarity from the Department of Health and Social Care on financial redress for the thousands of patients harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. On 2 March 2026, the Commissioner wrote to the Secretary of State requesting an update on timelines for a compensation scheme and highlighting the need for interim support for families facing acute financial hardship.  In his response of 31 March 2026, the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving clinical support, strengthening research, and progressing a decision for financial redress within this Parliament. Professor Henrietta Hughes, Patient…

More than two years after the Hughes Report was published, the Government has yet to provide a clear timeline for implementing a compensation scheme for the thousands of patients harmed by pelvic mesh and valproate. Professor Hughes has described the delay as unacceptable, given the severity and scale of harm involved, and has written directly to Number 10 seeking a timetable for action. In a letter to the Prime Minister on 3 March, Professor Hughes said: “Patients and families affected have experienced prolonged, avoidable harm to their physical and mental health as a result of systemic failures and a breakdown in informed consent. “Whilst progress…

Patient Safety Commissioner Professor Henrietta Hughes has today announced she will approach Number 10 directly to secure financial redress for those harmed by pelvic mesh and the medicine valproate, following a Government update that provides no timetable for decisions on financial compensation.  The announcement comes nearly two years after the publication of the Hughes Report in February 2024, which examined options for redress for patients and families affected by these interventions. The report followed earlier advice provided to the Department of Health and Social Care in October 2023.  Sodium valproate is a life-saving drug used in epilepsy and bipolar disorder, but when taken in pregnancy…

Responding to the publication of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and National Voices report – ‘Patient views on medical devices prescribed to them outside of hospital in England’ Patient Safety Commissioner Professor Henrietta Hughes said: “Hearing the patient voice is paramount if we are to make important progress in the way we prescribe medical devices and ensure the highest standards of safety. Patients’ lived experiences and views are vital for identifying how care can be improved and harm avoided. “I welcome the report, which provides valuable insights and recommendations to improve patient experience of the 60,000 devices…

On Friday 31 October 2025, marking the second anniversary of the Ministerial Advice to the DHSC, I wrote to Minister Ahmed formally to exercise the powers under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (Sch 1, para 3), to request information for the purposes of carrying out my core duties. I have requested a clear timeline of work and steps undertaken by DHSC over the last 2 years to consider the content of my report and recommendations on redress. Read the letter here.

Following the publication of the government’s 10 Year Plan on the 3rd of July 2025, which confirmed that the hosting of the Patient Safety Commissioner will be transitioning from the Department of Health and Social Care to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Patient Safety Commissioner Professor Henrietta Hughes and MHRA Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon have made the following statements.

I welcome the 10-Year Health Plan, specifically the focus on patient voice, transparency and accountability.  Working in partnership with patients and listening to what they say leads to more improvement and less harm. I look forward to supporting patients and the healthcare system to make this a reality for all.