8th July marks two years since the publication of First Do No Harm, the landmark report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety (IMMDS) Review.
Since then, there has been welcome progress in implementing some of the recommendations – the Government issued an apology to victims and last month we saw the announcement of the Government’s preferred candidate for the position of the Patient Safety Commissioner. There nevertheless remains a concern that the Government will not deliver on some of the remaining recommendations.
There must now be a renewed focus on implementing the remaining recommendations, so that we can deliver the change that thousands of affected individuals and their families need and deserve, and to ensure we minimise the risk of patients suffering avoidable harm in future.
A priority must now be delivering redress for those who have suffered avoidable harm, given the potential it has to improve the greatest number of lives immediately.
The Government has suggested that those affected should seek compensation through NHS Resolution or through litigation in court. This is an adversarial process that has not served affected individuals and their families well. Having seen the avoidable harm people have suffered and continue to suffer, we are firmly of the view is that there is a strong moral and ethical responsibility to provide redress.
Mythbusting redress
Redress
- …is not the same as compensation.
- …will require no legal action or admission of responsibility by manufacturers, clinicians or the Government.
- …is within the Government’s power to deliver, as it did in the case of Thalidomide and the vCJD Trust.
- …would not be costly.
Our position on redress is based on the conclusion of the IMMDS Review that women, their children and families have suffered years of severe physical pain, financial hardship stress, anxiety and feelings of guilt – all through no fault of their own and brought about by the healthcare system’s lack of openness and its unwillingness or inability address the avoidable suffering that has occurred.
We understand the Government is working on an update detailing its progress in implementing the recommendations of the IMMDS Review. Ahead of that update, you can help maintain momentum and join our campaign by:
- Downloading our pledge card and showing your support on social media by using #RedressMeansRespect.
- Writing to your local Member of Parliament (MP), asking them to make the pledge and back our campaign. Click here to find your local MP.
