Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review

Tuesday 13 April 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Christian Wakeford inquired about progress on implementing the recommendations of the independent medicines and medical devices safety review.
  • A written ministerial statement was published on 11 January 2021, updating Parliament on the Government's progress on the nine recommendations.
  • The Government expressed sincere sympathies to those harmed by sodium valproate and acknowledged the need for redress for those affected.

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Christian Wakeford Lab Bury South
NHS
Context

The independent medicines and medical devices safety review made several recommendations that need to be addressed. The report took over two years to produce.

Question

What progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the independent medicines and medical devices safety review?

Answer from Nadine Dorries

A written ministerial statement was published on 11 January 2021, updating Parliament on the Government's current progress on each of the nine recommendations. The Government will respond in full to the report later this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline or concrete actions for implementing recommendations were not provided

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Q2 Christian Wakeford Lab Bury South
NHS
Context

Baroness Cumberlege's report highlighted the harm caused by sodium valproate to those who took it during pregnancy, and a patient reference group is causing further delay for affected individuals.

Question

Baroness Cumberlege's respected report makes it clear that those harmed by sodium valproate have suffered great and irreparable harm for many decades and that redress is needed. The patient reference group adds more delay for people who have waited long enough already. Will my hon. Friend commit to doing the right thing today and take up this issue of redress and give those harmed the support they have waited so long for?

Answer from Nadine Dorries

I would like first to convey my most sincere sympathies to anyone who has suffered as a consequence of taking sodium valproate during pregnancy. It remains still the only drug that some women who suffer from epilepsy can take to control their epilepsy. As set out in the recent written ministerial statement, the Government will carefully consider the recommendations and make a full response to the whole report later this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to immediate action on redress was not provided

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