Patient Safety Commissioner letter to Prime Minister on on redress for valproate and pelvic mesh victims (June 2026)

Summary

The Patient Safety Commissioner, Prof Henrietta Hughes, has written to No.10 to request further information in relation to the Hughes Report exercising her statutory powers under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act for the second time since her appointment. The deadline for a response to her request is 16 July.  

Content

Prof Hughes has asked for information on: 

• Internal and cross-government discussions held in relation to the Hughes Report, including ministerial and official-level meetings, engagement and correspondence.  
• Actions taken beyond DHSC in response to her recommendations, over and above the information previously provided including policy decisions and considerations of feasibility and cost.  
• Future plans and – crucially – clarity on outstanding actions in order for Ministers to make a decision on redress and the timetable for a full response to her recommendations, as well as details of relevant planned work.  

The Commissioner said: “Nearly two and a half years ago, the Hughes Report set out clear and urgent recommendations shaped by the experience of patients harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh and the systemic failures that followed. It provided compelling evidence of enduring gaps in recognition of harm, access to redress, and the adequacy of support available to affected patients. These are not new concerns, but as the Hughes Report highlighted, they continue to have significant consequences for those who have been harmed and indeed continue to do so.  

“The recommendations in the Hughes Report are direct and actionable. They address fundamental issues in how the system responds to harm, including the need for timely acknowledgment, fair and accessible routes to compensation, and a more coordinated, compassionate response from Government and public bodies. The continued absence of visible and timely progress against these recommendations risks perpetuating the very harms and inequities the Hughes Report identifies.  

“Given the seriousness of these findings, and the continued impact on patients and their families, it is disappointing that the Government still hasn’t provided a substantive response to the Hughes Report. There is a clear need for transparency and accountability regarding the Government’s response. Understanding what action has been taken, and where progress has been made, is essential to driving improvement and restoring confidence with patients and the public. “