Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review

Norris thanked Baroness Cumberlege for her thorough investigation into the issues of Primodos, sodium valproate, and pelvic mesh implants. He acknowledged campaigners who have fought for years to bring these problems to light and praised the review team's treatment of patients and their families. Norris highlighted several recommendations from the report including a new independent redress agency, cost-sharing schemes for harm caused by medicines, and amendments to strengthen MHRA regulations.

Acknowledged the comprehensive nature of the Cumberlege report and committed to listening carefully to all stakeholders. Stressed the importance of formulating a robust response as quickly as possible, highlighting the role of women in patient safety issues and promising to address concerns raised by campaigners.

Expressed gratitude for Baroness Cumberlege's work on the report and emphasised the need for a patient safety commissioner. He urged the Government to come back with recommendations before the end of September, emphasising the importance of addressing systemic issues in healthcare.

Highlighted the significance of the Cumberlege report and commended Baroness Cumberlege's team for their work. She called for a swift implementation of all recommendations, including setting up a taskforce to guide them and establishing a patient safety commissioner.

Asked about future steps to improve data collection in the NHS to prevent similar situations from arising. He mentioned his Health and Social Care (National Data Guardian) Act 2020, which should allow for better monitoring of issues within the healthcare system.

Expressed gratitude to Baroness Cumberlege and acknowledged the suffering caused by mesh implants. She questioned whether surgeons who promoted these devices should lead specialist centres treating affected patients, advocating for a network of such centres.

The Minister acknowledges Mike Penning's contribution but cannot comment on specific issues due to pending legal action.

Acknowledges the Cumberlege report on Primodos and calls for swift implementation of its recommendations. He also demands criminal charges against perpetrators involved in the scandal's cover-up, suppression of evidence, and harmful drug marketing.

Reiterates her support but cannot comment on Primodos due to pending legal action.

Praises the Cumberlege report and Government's response, highlighting the need for an independent complaints commissioner and quicker compensation processes for victims who had to bear financial burdens due to NHS negligence.

Encourages Alec Shelbrooke to write about specific cases, indicating the need for more detailed investigation into why NHS operations led to private costs for victims.

As chair of an all-party group on anti-epileptic drugs in pregnancy, she welcomes Cumberlege's report but calls for full implementation and invites the Minister to meet with her group.

Offers to discuss sodium valproate issues further with Cat Smith’s all-party group, highlighting the need to communicate dangers while respecting patients' treatment options.

Questions the integration of NHS data systems, highlighting the importance of data registries for better patient care as per Cumberlege's recommendations.

Acknowledges Ben Spencer’s concerns and mentions Sir Cyril Chantler’s contribution to the report. She outlines plans for a medical devices information system to integrate data from various providers.

As chair of an all-party group on hormone pregnancy tests, he welcomes Cumberlege's report but demands that the review marks a turning point for Primodos families who have long faced denial from authorities.

Acknowledges Yasmin Qureshi’s campaigning and reiterates her inability to comment on Primodos due to pending legal action.

Expressed concern over the guilt felt by mothers who inadvertently harmed their babies due to drug use during pregnancy and asked for reassurance from the Minister about actions taken to improve monitoring of drugs used in pregnancy.

Acknowledged the work of the all-party group on valproate and other anti-epileptic drugs in pregnancy, mentioned the decline in sodium valproate use among pregnant women with epilepsy, and promised to provide recommendations after the full evaluation of the Cumberlege report.

Called for a priority to establish an independent redress agency as recommended by the review and to ensure that it moves quickly to provide compensation to those affected by drug scandals during pregnancy.

Inquired about the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill's provisions concerning medical devices and thanked Nadine Dorries for recognising the work of campaigners like Yasmin Qureshi on Primodos.

Praised campaigners for their relentless efforts to bring attention to health issues faced by women, particularly regarding Primodos, sodium valproate and pelvic mesh repairs, and questioned the Minister about addressing systemic gender bias in healthcare.

Paid tribute to Joanne Bylett for her campaigning efforts on Primodos and asked the Minister to ensure full understanding of risks involved before removal of vaginal mesh implants is conducted.

Highlighted concerns about gender bias in healthcare, particularly how women's health issues are often dismissed or misdiagnosed, and sought plans for a review involving devolved Governments to address male bias across the NHS.

Suggested establishing a single database with all devices used during medical procedures, linking patient records from both primary and secondary care, and called for an international standard protocol for migrating existing databases into this system.

Baroness Cumberlege’s report highlights specific and systemic problems, urging a positive cultural change for women's health issues.

Acknowledges the importance of the sodium valproate pregnancy prevention programme and is considering further measures to address patient safety concerns.

Calls for action from Bayer to recognise its responsibilities, apologise and contribute towards payments outlined in the report.

Emphasises that women's voices have been historically ignored, urging for a patient safety commissioner to ensure women are taken seriously.

Highlights the shocking awareness of risks by the Committee on Safety of Medicines since 1973 and calls for more support for affected children from local authorities.

Calls for medical trials to be restarted to ensure safety and proposes doctors write directly to patients regarding treatment decisions.

Proposes stricter measures for drugs like Roaccutane, similar to those proposed for sodium valproate, to ensure it is not prescribed to pregnant women.

Supports the recommendation of an ex-gratia scheme and urges immediate action on redress for families affected by Primodos.

Highlights the physical and emotional pain faced by women undergoing mesh removal procedures, urging immediate action from the Government.

Questions why patient safety research was not prioritised in the past and seeks assurance that this will change with new measures being implemented.

Welcomes recommendations but warns against creating unnecessary bureaucracy, proposing a system to survey hospitals on how they handle complaints.

Acknowledges a recurring theme of patients facing delays when complaining to trusts and mentions considering a point raised by another MP about logjams in complaint handling.

Questions the Minister about discussions with Scottish Government counterparts regarding sodium valproate and patient safety, highlighting the need for systematic identification of at-risk women.

Responds to David Linden by stating that health is devolved in Scotland but continuous conversations occur with healthcare partners across all devolved nations regarding patient safety issues.

Welcomes the statement on patient safety, expresses support for those affected by related issues, and calls for collaboration between the Minister of State for Patient Safety and MHRA to prioritise patient safety.

Agrees with Robbie Moore and elaborates on the ongoing changes at MHRA, emphasising the importance of making patient safety a top priority in NHS operations and ensuring that all healthcare organisations uphold high standards for patient confidence and safety.

Expresses gratitude to the Minister for her statement and for addressing questions on the call list.