Victims of three medical products that caused 'avoidable harm' still awaiting redress

The dark granite block in a children's cemetery in Bristol tells an incomplete story: "Trelissa Whitbread, born 3rd of Feb 1988. She lived 2 hours."

Deborah Mann has not returned to the grave of her firstborn for 30 years but today has come with her daughter, Branwen, to tell her the story. "It shouldn't have happened," she says quietly.

Ms Mann had four pregnancies. Her first two children, Trelissa and Kaverne, died shortly after birth. Ms Mann believes their deaths were caused by an epilepsy drug she was taking called sodium valproate, prescribed by her GP.

After a long gap she would go on to have two more children, both girls, who were diagnosed with what is now recognised as foetal valproate syndrome, which has left them with life-long physical and neurological problems.

Ms Mann tells Sky News: "I asked so many questions and was told 'this is just the way things are.' It can't be the way things are when you lose two babies. How can it be the way things are?"

Five years ago, valproate was among three medical products including the pregnancy test drug Primodos and medical device pelvic mesh, that were found to have caused "avoidable harm" to patients.

The report was clear that valproate could cause lifelong disabilities to the children of mothers taking the drug when pregnant.

The independent review, chaired by Baroness Julia Cumberlege, strongly criticised the industry and regulators and made a series of recommendations, including the creation of a redress scheme for victims in all three groups.

Five years on there is still no such scheme for any of the campaign groups.

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Source: Sky News, 11 July 2025