Category: meetings

This month the APPG for First Do No Harm held a conversation with Dr Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner for England. The session explored Henrietta’s experiences and reflections from her first four months in post ahead of the launch of her 100 Days Report, in which she sets out what she has heard and done in her role so far and her priorities for the year ahead.

The Group would like to thank those who attended and relevant Parliamentarians and campaigners for their continued support.

To view the documents related to the annual general meeting see below:

• Meeting minutes

Last month, the APPG held their annual general meeting in Parliament. Baroness Cumberlege was re-elected as Co-Chair of the group and in light of Jeremy Hunt’s recent appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sharon Hodgson MP was elected as Co-Chair, having previously supported the Group as Vice-Chair over the last calendar year. Sharon is is an Officer of the APPG for Valproate and other Anti-Epileptic Drugs in Pregnancy and Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Surgical Mesh. The current serving Vice-Chairs were re-elected, with the addition of Baroness Ritchie also joining as Vice-Chair.

The Group looked back on a year of significant activity and progress, including the appointment of Dr Henrietta Hughes as the first Patient Safety Commissioner in England, and agreed that a renewed focus on seeking the implementation of redress schemes should be a priority for the Group over the next year.

The Group looks forward to building on the progress of the past year and would like to thank relevant Parliamentarians and campaigners for their continued support.

To view the documents related to the annual general meeting see below:

• AGM minutes
• AGM results form
• AGM annual expenditure form

On Wednesday 26th January from 10:30-12:00, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm (APPG FDNH) held a virtual public meeting on the topic of redress schemes for those who have suffered avoidable harm linked to pelvic mesh, sodium valproate and Primodos.

This meeting was an opportunity to hear from representatives of various patient groups about what victims need and what they are missing from current support mechanisms. Officers and members of the APPG FDNH also provided an update on the Health and Care Bill, which passed through Committee in the House of Lords earlier that month.

The meeting was Chaired by Baroness Cumberlege (Co-Chair, APPG FDNH), joined on a virtual panel by representatives of the following patient groups, as well as Officers and members of the APPG FDNH:

• Sling the Mesh
• Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests (ACDHPT)
• Independent Fetal Anti-Convulsant Trust (IN-FACT)

Attendees had the opportunity to put forward questions during the meeting and were invited to follow the event on social media by using #Redress and #FirstDoNoHarm.

To view a recording of the session please see below or click here

On Friday 22^nd October 2021, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm met to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM). As well as re-electing parliamentarians to officer positions – including Baroness Cumberlege and the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP as co-Chairs – the Group reviewed progress to date and agreed plans for the coming months.

Review of recent activity

At the meeting, the Group looked back on a successful year for the APPG, which included:

• Further raising the profile of the effects of the campaigns (pelvic mesh, sodium valproate and Primodos) in Parliament – including the scheduling of a Commons debate to coincide with the 1^st anniversary of the publication of First Do No Harm, in which over 20 MPs participated.
• Raising the profile in the media, with appearances on and mentions in R4’s Today Programme, Sky News, BBC News The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and the Independent.
• Holding four external events that welcomed, in total, over 300 attendees – including one in collaboration with the British Medical Journal

The Group also discussed recent conversations with NHS England and the MHRA, in particular with the NHSE Medical Director on sodium valproate and pelvic mesh, as well as with the Scottish Government.

Plans for 2022

The Group discussed its plans for the coming months, which will include:

• Tabling amendments to the Health and Care Bill that seek to provide redress for affected individuals and their families.
• In anticipation of the appointment of the Patient Safety Commissioner in the New Year, bringing together other commissioners (such as Domestic Violence, Victims etc.) to share their experiences and help inform the selection process.
• Meeting the Minister for Patient Safety. We have requested the new Minister for Patient Safety, Maria Caulfield MP, attends a meeting of the APPG to update it on the implementation of First Do No Harm.
• Ensuring the continued engagement of patient groups and affected individuals, following the conclusion of the work of the Patient Reference Group.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) held a virtual public meeting on the topic of establishing a register of financial and non-pecuniary interests for doctors, as recommended in the report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First Do No Harm. To view a recording of the session below or please click here.

A note of the meeting is available here

On Friday 21st May from 10:00-11:30, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) will hold a virtual public meeting on the topic of establishing a register of financial and non-pecuniary interests for doctors, as recommended in the report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First Do No Harm.

The meeting will be co-Chaired by Baroness Cumberlege (Co-Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm) and Fiona Godlee (Editor in Chief, BMJ), who will restate the case for the introduction of a register and review where progress has been made. They will be joined on a virtual panel by:

• Margaret McCartney – general practitioner, freelance writer and broadcaster
• Kath Sansom – Sling the Mesh
• Neil Mortensen, President, Royal College of Surgeons
• Professor Colin Melville, Medical Director and Director, Education and Standards, General Medical Council
• Officers of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm

Attendees will have the opportunity to put forward questions during the meeting and are invited to follow the event on social media by using #RegisterofInterests and #FirstDoNoHarm.

Those interested in attending are welcome to express their interest by emailing the Secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm via fdnh@luther.co.uk.

Today, the APPG for First Do No Harm held a meeting with Nadine Dorries MP, the Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health. View a recording of the session below or please click here.

A note of the meeting is available here

On 26^th January at 10:30am, the Minister for Patient Safety, Nadine Dorries MP will attend a virtual meeting of the APPG for First Do No Harm to provide an update on the Government’s thinking regarding the Review’s recommendations, further to the written statement released by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) earlier this week.

The Minister will make an introductory statement before participating in a Q&A with Baroness Cumberlege, the Group’s officers and other parliamentarians. Patient campaigners and other interested parties are welcome to attend the meeting and to participate in the Q&A.

To register interest in attending the meeting which will be held on Zoom please contact the Group’s Secretariat at Luther Pendragon via fdnh@luther.co.uk.

On Wednesday, 16th December at 10:30 the APPG held a formal, virtual launch via Zoom. Baroness Cumberlege provided an update on the Group’s activity and answered questions from attendees. A note of the meeting is available here.