← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Hughes Report: Second Anniversary
11 February 2026
Lead MP
Sarah Green
Chesham and Amersham
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Karin Smyth
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 13855
Other Contributors: 20
At a Glance
Sarah Green raised concerns about hughes report: second anniversary in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Green questions what conversations the Minister has had with the Treasury and Downing Street regarding redress and requests a meeting between the Minister and some of the affected families to understand why redress is crucial for them.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The issue of redress for victims harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh is a well-trodden road with no tangible progress. Despite the publication of the Hughes report two years ago, there is still no official government response or timeline for action. Sarah Green highlights that around 30,000 individuals have been affected, many facing significant financial, physical, mental health, and relationship challenges due to these issues.
Anna Sabine
Lib Dem
Frome and East Somerset
Anna Sabine expressed concern over the Government's delayed response to the Hughes report, which calls for financial redress for patients affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. She highlighted the case of her constituent Nick whose son was born with foetal valproate syndrome due to his wife taking valproate during pregnancy. Sabine also raised awareness about the impact of Primodos, a hormonal pregnancy test linked to birth abnormalities, stressing that victims are seeking acknowledgment and compensation.
Calum Miller
Lib Dem
Bicester and Woodstock
Supporting his hon. Friend's speech, Calum Miller discussed other important elements of the Hughes report such as healthcare and special educational needs provision for constituents with disabilities caused by sodium valproate use.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Women face lifelong pain, children are born with preventable disabilities, families endure financial and emotional stress. Early warning signs must be recognised to prevent future issues.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
On behalf of the Opposition, Caroline Johnson thanked Sarah Green for securing today's debate on the Hughes Report. She highlighted that over 20,000 children have been affected by sodium valproate prescriptions between 1973 and 2017 despite known risks. Johnson also noted that more than 10,000 women were harmed by pelvic mesh implants in the absence of long-term safety data. She detailed a case involving an abdominal wall hernia patient with ongoing complications from mesh erosion, urging for an update on compensation efforts.
Caroline Voaden
Lib Dem
South Devon
Ms Caroline Voaden highlighted the ongoing suffering of individuals affected by pelvic mesh implants and sodium valproate exposure. She shared the stories of two constituents, Susan and Caroline, who experienced severe medical complications and financial ruin due to negligence. Ms Voaden emphasised that over 16 years have passed since some patients began seeking justice for their injuries, and called for an independent redress scheme with £100,000 interim payments and comprehensive support. Caroline Voaden asked the Minister to provide an idea of when a response to the Hughes report might be forthcoming.
Christopher Vince
Lab Co-op
Harlow
Thanking the hon. Member for bringing the debate, Christopher Vince highlighted that financial redress is crucial but emphasised the emotional impact on women involved and their need to see recommendations acted upon.
Daniel Francis
Lab
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Mr Francis shared personal experiences related to valproate and pelvic mesh, emphasizing the need for research funding and swift regulatory action. He called for concrete measures for financial and non-financial redress and highlighted the emotional toll on families affected by these issues.
James Naish
Lab
Rushcliffe
James Naish discussed his constituent Catherine and her son Matthew, who was prescribed sodium valproate while pregnant leading to Matthew's lifelong needs and learning disability. He emphasized the need for the Government to provide specialist assessments, therapies, adaptations, lost earnings compensation, and round-the-clock care for affected individuals like Matthew.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
James Wild thanked the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham for introducing the debate, expressing frustration over the lack of action despite victims' patience running out. He highlighted the case of his constituents Colleen and Andy whose son Byron lives with autism, learning disabilities, communication difficulties and epilepsy due to sodium valproate exposure in utero. Wild urged the Government to act on interim payments as promised by Professor Hughes's report.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr Shannon highlighted the lack of progress in implementing the Hughes report recommendations for Northern Ireland, where patients remain without financial compensation. He mentioned that between 1998 and 2018, around 11,000 vaginal mesh implants were performed in Northern Ireland, with conservative estimates suggesting significant problems for 5% to 10% of these patients. Shannon also noted the concern over children affected by exposure to valproate drugs, estimated at three babies per month across the UK. He stressed that advocacy groups such as Sling the Mesh Northern Ireland are advocating for action and called on the Minister to provide a timeline for progress.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
I shared concerns raised by my constituent Emma about the lack of financial and non-financial redress for those harmed by pelvic mesh. I quoted recommendations from Henrietta Hughes's report, emphasizing the need for an interim scheme to provide immediate help to victims while more complex calculations are processed. Julian Lewis requested that the Minister give way to ask questions about the progress on the Hughes report recommendations. The MP expresses worry that despite the discussions about process, it seems Ministers are operating under a constraint due to lack of funding for redress, as possibly dictated by high-level Treasury decisions. The MP seeks confirmation on this point.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Madders highlighted the lack of progress in implementing the recommendations from the Hughes report, particularly regarding sodium valproate. He mentioned a constituent who had been waiting for five years to see action on the issue and expressed disappointment with vague government assurances. Madders suggested that interim payment systems could be used as a model for providing some measure of redress to those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh.
Aylesbury
Focusing on housing support, Laura Kyrke-Smith raised concerns about the difficulty her constituent faces in obtaining funding for home modifications and specialist equipment needed due to foetal valproate syndrome.
Lizzi Collinge
Lab
Morecambe and Lunesdale
Sodium valproate, prescribed without proper warnings for decades, has harmed thousands of children. At least 7,000 affected since its market introduction in 1973. The medicine causes serious birth defects and developmental delays. Constituents like Nicola have been profoundly impacted.
Luke Myer
Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Supported his colleague's call to acknowledge groups like Sling the Mesh, which campaigns for women affected by pelvic mesh. Highlighted a constituent's 11-year struggle with pelvic mesh complications.
Marie Goldman
Lib Dem
Chelmsford
Goldman paid tribute to victims of the sodium valproate scandal, particularly her constituent Mary, who has been campaigning for better support. She emphasized that children affected by foetal valproate syndrome have evolving disabilities and face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services due to a lack of awareness among medical professionals. Goldman criticised the government's response as inadequate and urged MPs to raise more awareness about the issue. The MP asks the Minister to give way during the debate.
Seamus Logan
SNP
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
Mr Logan expressed concern about the lack of response to the Hughes report from both Conservative and Labour Governments, highlighting it as a UK-wide issue with significant impacts on families. He urged for immediate action to address recommendation 4 of the report and called for a proper system of redress for those affected by pelvic mesh implants. The MP appreciates the complexities of the steps outlined by the Minister but asks for a specific timescale, inquiring whether there will be a response by the end of the Session, autumn, or calendar year.
Shockat Adam
Ind
Leicester South
Paid tribute to families affected by miscarriages of justice, particularly those impacted by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. Raised concerns over the historical failure to warn women about risks associated with sodium valproate, resulting in thousands of children born with disabilities. Emphasised the need for an independent redress agency and compensation scheme as recommended by Baroness Cumberlege's review.
Sorcha Eastwood
Alliance
Lagan Valley
Ms Eastwood intervened to pay tribute to campaigners and asked Mr Francis if he agreed that an apology and redress were deserved by those impacted emotionally by the issues discussed.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
I expressed concern about the lack of Government response to the Hughes report, which recommends a two-stage non-adversarial redress scheme for women impacted by pelvic mesh and sodium valproate. I highlighted the importance of financial compensation and access to appropriate support including specialist healthcare. Additionally, I called for measures to prevent future scandals and better protect constituents.
Government Response
Karin Smyth
Government Response
The Minister responded by paying tribute to the work of Dr Henrietta Hughes and Baroness Cumberlege. She reiterated the commitment to advancing the work outlined in the Hughes report, including improving clinical services, commissioning further research, and initiating preventive measures. The Government is considering financial redress collectively with input from multiple departments. NHS England has undertaken pilot projects on foetal exposure to medication and mesh centre reviews. The National Institute for Health and Care Research is conducting a £1.56 million study on patient-reported outcome measures. Additionally, the Minister emphasised ongoing engagement with affected women's groups and the willingness to meet campaigners for further discussions.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.