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 it harms the foetus. Pelvic mesh, used to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, is estimated to have harmed 10,000 women.
Using statutory powers
In October 2025, to mark the second anniversary of the Ministerial advice, Professor Hughes wrote to Dr Zubir Ahmed MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety, using her powers under Schedule 1, paragraph 3 of the 2021 Medicines and Medical Devices Act. This legislation authorises the Patient Safety Commissioner to access information, documents or records considered necessary for the exercise of her functions. This was the first time these powers have been exercised.
Professor Hughes sought information about the steps that had been taken by Ministers and officials to respond to her report and its ten recommendations on redress.
No timetable for action
While welcoming progress on non-financial aspects of redress and Minister Ahmed’s personal commitment, Professor Hughes confirmed today that what is starkly absent from the Government’s update is any commitment to a timetable for action on financial redress.
The Department of Health and Social Care does not have the agency to deliver financial compensation. That authority sits with the Treasury and Number 10.
Professor Henrietta Hughes said:
“I welcome Minister Ahmed’s acknowledgement that financial redress is part of the Government’s thinking. However, acknowledgement alone does not provide justice to the thousands of patients and families who have been harmed.
“What is starkly absent from this update is any commitment to a timetable for action. Nearly two years after publishing my report, patients are still waiting for action and financial redress. Patients’ lives don’t grind to a halt while Government departments debate jurisdiction and timelines.
“I am grateful for the Minister’s personal commitment and the progress on non-financial aspects. But the reality remains that the Department of Health and Social Care does not have the agency to deliver financial compensation. That authority sits with the Treasury and Number 10.
“I will now be approaching Number 10 directly, using the power to request information under the 2021 Medicines and Medical Devices Act if required. This is very much unfinished business and I will not stop holding Government to account until this is resolved for the patients and families harmed.”
Background
The Hughes Report made 10 recommendations including interim and main financial redress schemes, with applications to be straightforward, non-adversarial and based on an assumption of truth. The report called for schemes to be administered by an independent body which commands the confidence of patients.
These families have suffered life-long avoidable harm caused by systemic failures and a betrayal of trust driven by a failure of informed consent. The time taken to respond to the report has been unquestionably unacceptable as time does not stand still for patients and families who have been harmed.
Read the government responses to the Patient Safety Commissioner: