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Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Independent Review

Asked by Andy MacNaeLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 7 February 2025UIN 28217

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on implementing the recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

Seven of the nine recommendations of the review have been previously accepted in full, in part, or in principle. Four of these have been successfully implemented, including:

  • issuing an unreserved apology on behalf of the healthcare system;
  • appointing Dr Henrietta Hughes as the first ever Patient Safety Commissioner in England in respect of medicines and medical devices; and
  • establishing nine specialist mesh centres, which are in operation across England.

Work is ongoing in respect of the remaining recommendations, including working across the Government to consider the recommendations in the Hughes Report, which looked into, and provided advice on, redress for those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh.

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