The Hughes Report: Key Recommendations
In July 2020, Baroness Julia Cumberlege published “First Do No Harm”, the landmark Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review – commonly referred to as the Cumberlege Review. One of the outcomes of this review was the commissioning of The Hughes Report by the Department of Health and Social Care, led by Dr. Henrietta Hughes OBE, the inaugral Patient Safety Commissioner for England.
The Hughes Report builds on the findings of the Cumberlege Review and centres the lived experiences of individuals harmed by medical interventions, including those impacted by Sodium Valproate, Primodos, and Pelvic Mesh. The report makes vital recommendations to improve patient safety, rebuild trust, and bring long-overdue justice to families.
Read the report here : The Hughes Report
Key Recommendations of The Hughes Report
- Deliver Redress and Compensation
- Establish a Redress Scheme for those harmed by Sodium Valproate, and Pelvic Mesh separate from litigation – to provide recognition, accountability, and financial support.
- Compensation should be needs-based, straightforward to access, and not reliant on families proving fault.
- Implement a Duty to Listen
- Mandate that healthcare professionals and systems listen carefully and compassionately to patients, particularly when concerns are raised about harm.
- Embed a ‘Speak Up’ culture where patients and families feel heard and respected.
- Establish a Statutory Duty of Candour
- Ensure all healthcare providers are legally obliged to be open and honest when things go wrong.
- Support healthcare staff with the training and systems they need to uphold transparency.
- Create a National Patient Safety Network
- Develop a cross-sector safety network to connect regulators, NHS bodies, patient groups, and campaigners to proactively share concerns and prevent harm.
- Centre patients’ voices in all safety discussions.
- Support and Empower the Patient Safety Commissioner
- Provide the Commissioner with statutory powers, adequate funding, and authority to challenge poor practice.
- Ensure the Commissioner remains independent from government or industry influence.
- Improve Communication and Informed Consent
- Overhaul patient information about medicines and devices so it is clear, honest, accessible, and up-to-date.
- Guarantee that all patients receive meaningful counselling about risks and alternatives, particularly in relation to Sodium Valproate and pregnancy.
- Establish Specialist Services for Those Harmed
- Create dedicated multidisciplinary clinics and support services for individuals and families affected by historic harm, including access to mental health, legal, welfare, and educational support.
- Address Inequalities and Systemic Failures
- Recognise and confront bias, discrimination, and inequality in how harm is acknowledged and managed within the healthcare system.
- Invest in training and reforms to ensure safer care for all.
Emma Murphy’s Speech at the Launch of The Hughes Report
Janet Williams’ Speech at the Launch of The Hughes Report
Why This Matters
The Hughes Report echoes what patients, families, INFACT and other campaigners have said for decades: those harmed by avoidable medical negligence must be acknowledged, supported, and never ignored again. These recommendations are not just policy—they are a moral imperative.
We continue to campaign for their full implementation without delay.
Latest Government Response : 11 June 2025
“The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex area of work, involving several Government departments. We will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report at the earliest opportunity.”
Copyright – Emma Murphy, Janet Williams – Indepedent Fetal Anti Convulsant Trust
INFACT 