The NHS have announced that they are going to review three different treatments that are currently used because a number of patients have voiced their concerns. The DHSC have stated that the review is going to be focused on vaginal mesh, but other treatments include sodium valproate and Primodos which is a hormonal pregnancy test. It’s important to note that Primodos was used up until the year 1978, and those who work in nursing jobs may remember it.

Jeremy Hunt who is the Health and Social Care Secretary, has stated that the review is going to be done to try and respond to patient concerns. The concerns are mostly stemming from the side effects of the treatments, and a lot of them believe that they are not getting their voices heard.

Babies who have had exposure to valproate medicines while in the womb have a 10% chance of developing some form of physical abnormality and that they also have a 40% chance of developing cognitive problems as well.

Parents believe that they were not warned sufficiently enough about this, and there have even been reports of mesh implants cutting into the vagina as well. Some women have been left in constant pain and others were left unable to work. Campaigners also claim that the drug Primodos has caused defects in their own children, such as limb defects, cleft palates and blindness.

Various findings were published in the year 2016 but there is no progress on whether or not the drugs are unsafe to use or whether they need to be reconsidered. A review is being done to try and make sure that no parent or patient is put in a situation that could either harm themselves or their children.