Victims of three medical products that caused ‘avoidable harm’ still awaiting redress
The dark granite block in a children’s cemetery in Bristol tells an incomplete story: “Trelissa Whitbread, born 3rd of Feb 1988. She lived 2 hours.”
Deborah Mann has not returned to the grave of her firstborn for 30 years but today has come with her daughter, Branwen, to tell her the story. “It shouldn’t have happened,” she says quietly.
Ms Mann had four pregnancies. Her first two children, Trelissa and Kaverne, died shortly after birth. Ms Mann believes their deaths were caused by an epilepsy drug she was taking called sodium valproate, prescribed by her GP.
After a long gap she would go on to have two more children, both girls, who were diagnosed with what is now recognised as foetal valproate syndrome, which has left them with life-long physical and neurological problems.
Ms Mann tells Sky News: “I asked so many questions and was told ‘this is just the way things are.’ It can’t be the way things are when you lose two babies. How can it be the way things are?”
Deborah Mann
Five years ago, valproate was among three medical products including the pregnancy test drug Primodos and medical device pelvic mesh, that were found to have caused “avoidable harm” to patients.
The report was clear that valproate could cause lifelong disabilities to the children of mothers taking the drug when pregnant.
The independent review, chaired by Baroness Julia Cumberlege, strongly criticised the industry and regulators and made a series of recommendations, including the creation of a redress scheme for victims in all three groups.
On valproate, it stated: “Nothing can undo the harm that has been done to these individuals, but steps can be taken to make their lives easier.”
Deborah Mann and her daughter Branwen visit Trelissa’s grave
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20,000 children exposed to drug while in womb
Five years on there is still no such scheme for any of the campaign groups. In the week of developments in the Post Office scandal and infected blood, here is another scandal no less significant.
An estimated 20,000 children were exposed to sodium valproate while in the womb.
UK regulator the MHRA says an increased risk of neonatal loss is not currently a recognised adverse reaction, but it does warn of a range of congenital problems caused by the drug that are increasingly likely the higher the dose.
Sky News has also seen a study from 1972 which shows high doses of sodium valproate could be embryo-lethal in rats. At times Ms Mann was being prescribed 5,000mg, which is double the highest recommended dose.
Ms Mann worries about the future of her surviving children. She says of the government: “It’s financially better to pretend they don’t even exist. So many children are harmed, so many children that will not have their needs addressed as they grow older.”
At the time of birth her eldest daughter Rhonwen’s medical records state “valproate levels caused foetal and patient damage,” which included deafness.
Branwen, 29
Daughter worries about being a mother as she can pass condition on
Ms Mann wasn’t initially told about the cause of her daughter’s problems, even when she was pregnant with her next child Branwen.
The 29-year-old told Sky News: “I have tight ankles, tight legs, tight hips and I have a weak lower back. I have to wear splints every day to be sure I can keep walking, and I have to do exercises every day. I have autism, Asperger’s syndrome.”
She goes on to list a series of brain problems that must be scanned every two years, “to make sure nothing’s grown or moved.”
She was bullied at school for her appearance, and she worries about being a mother as she can pass the condition on to her children.
She said: “I feel very let down by the government. I feel let down by the people who promised they would help us, that they will help ensure that we have a better quality of life.”
‘Somebody at last had listened’
Others the Cumberlege review wanted to get redress for “avoidable harm” were children born with malformations after their mothers used the drug Primodos.
These hormone-packed pills were prescribed as a pregnancy test to thousands of women in the 1960s and 70s and are alleged to have caused a range of malformations to babies, from shortened limbs to heart defects, which the manufacturer denies.
Marie Lyon, lead campaigner for the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests
Lead campaigner for the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests (ACDHPT), Marie Lyon, told Sky News: “Our families were utterly overjoyed that somebody at last had listened, and Julia Cumberlege did a thorough review. Our expectations were wow! This is it now. An apology from the health secretary, all these years and we’ve finally got there, and then nothing.
“Five years and may I say, five years and 31 deaths. That’s how many of our members have died since that report was published in 2020 and we’ve still not received justice. It’s a disgrace.”
Baroness Cumberlege also recommended the government create a redress scheme for women left debilitated by pelvic mesh implants.
Kath Sansom, founder of the Sling The Mesh campaign group
‘The government are dragging their feet’
Kath Sansom, founder of the Sling The Mesh campaign group, told Sky News: “There are women in there who can’t walk any more, who need a stick or a mobility scooter – they’ve lost jobs, marriages, pensions. Some have had to sell their homes, and it feels really unfair that we are still waiting for a reply on redress.
“The government are dragging their feet. We keep being told that they are working on it at pace – but the phrase within the group is – a snail’s pace.”
The Department of Health and Social Care said: “The harm caused by pelvic mesh continues to be felt today” and “we are fully focused on how best to support patients and prevent future harm.”
“Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron met patients affected and has committed to providing a further update.”
Government considering recommendations
The government says it is considering the recommendations by the patient safety commissioner last year for a redress scheme, but it’s notable there is no timescale and no reference to the harm caused by valproate or Primodos in their statement.
Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said: “Patient safety is our highest priority and no one should stop taking valproate without seeking advice from their healthcare professional.
“Valproate is a highly teratogenic medicine and there is evolving evidence for harms in males, which is why the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) recommended new regulatory measures to reduce the known harms from valproate, including the significant risk of serious harm to the baby if taken during pregnancy and the risk of impaired fertility in male.”
Sanofi, manufacturers of sodium valproate, told us: “We have always worked closely with the MHRA and fully met all our legal and regulatory obligations in relation to valproate which is an essential medicine used to treat a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.
“Sanofi has at all times provided information regarding valproate that reflects current knowledge as approved by MHRA.
“We are committed to working with all concerned stakeholders to continue educating about the risks and precautions for the appropriate use of valproate.”
Southend Airport has been closed until further notice after a small plane crashed – as video footage emerged showing the aftermath of a huge fireball.
Images posted online showed large flames and a cloud of black smoke following the incident on Sunday afternoon.
Essex Police said it responded to “reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane” shortly before 4pm.
“We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours,” the statement said.
“We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.”
Southend Airport said it would be “closed until further notice” due to the “serious incident”.
“We ask that any passengers due to travel (on Monday) via London Southend Airport contact their airline for information and advice,” it added.
A huge fireball near the airport. Pic: Ben G
Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, confirmed its SUZ1 flight had been “involved in an accident” at the airport and its thoughts were with “everyone who has been affected”.
It has been reported that the plane involved in the incident is a Beech B200 Super King Air.
According to flight-tracking service Flightradar, it took off at 3.48pm and was bound for Lelystad, a city in the Netherlands.
Pilots ‘waved’ to families watching planes
One man, who was at the airport with his wife and children, told Sky News the plane crashed within seconds of taking off.
John Johnson said the pilots “waved” at his family as they taxied the aircraft.
“We all waved [back] at them,” he continued. “They carried on taxiing to their take-off point and turned around.
“Then they throttled up the engines and passed by us. The aircraft took off and within a few seconds it had a steep bank angle to its left.”
The aircraft then “almost seemed to invert and unfortunately crashed,” he said. “There was a large fireball.”
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Smoke seen after small plane crashes
‘Airport was in lockdown’
Wren Stranix, 16, from Woodbridge in Suffolk, was in another aircraft waiting to take off for Newquay, Cornwall, with her family and boyfriend when the plane came down.
They watched from their aircraft as the emergency services arrived and were not able to leave their seats.
“The flight attendant didn’t know what was going on,” she told Sky News. “They said the plane had exploded and they didn’t know if it was safe or not. The airport was in lockdown.”
Plumes of black smoke. Pic: UKNIP
They were eventually allowed back in the terminal to wait before all flights were cancelled.
Southend Airport said the incident involved “a general aviation aircraft”.
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A photo of the plane at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in September 2024. Pic: Pascal Weste
After the incident, EasyJet – one of just a few airlines that uses the airport – said all of its remaining flights to and from Southend had been “diverted to alternative airports or are no longer able to operate”.
The airline said it has contacted customers who were due to travel on Sunday. Anyone due to fly on Monday should check online for up-to-date information, it added.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said four crews, along with off-road vehicles, have attended the scene.
The East of England Ambulance Service said four ambulances, four hazardous area response team vehicles and an air ambulance had been sent to the incident.
Fire engines at the airport
David Burton-Sampson, the MP for Southend West and Leigh, asked people to keep away from the area and “allow the emergency services to do their work” in a post on social media.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was “monitoring the situation closely and receiving regular updates”.
Essex Police have set up a dedicated public portal and phone line where people can contact them about the crash at https://esxpol.uk/LIbaz and on 0800 0961011.
Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin said: “In these very early stages it is vital we gather the information we need, and continue supporting the people of Essex.”
He added: “We are working closely with all at the scene, as well as the Air Accident Investigation Branch, to establish what has happened today and why.”
UK
Gregg Wallace: Half the allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact
An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.
MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.
The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.
The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.
There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.
While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.
Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014
Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.
Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.
The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.
Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024
While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.
While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.
Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.
The dates for Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK have been announced, with the US president due to be welcomed by the King from 17 to 19 September.
Buckingham Palace also confirmed that President Trump and first lady Melania will be hosted by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle.
It was expected that the three-day state visit would take place in September after Mr Trump let slip earlier in April that he believed that was when his second “fest” was being planned for.
Windsor was also anticipated to be the location after the US president told reporters in the Oval Office that the letter from the King said Windsor would be the setting. Refurbishment works at Buckingham Palace also meant that Windsor was used last week for French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit.
This will be Mr Trump’s second state visit to the UK, an unprecedented gesture towards an American leader, having previously been invited to Buckingham Palace in 2019.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump posing with Charles and Camilla in 2019. Pic: Reuters
He has also been to Windsor Castle before, in 2018, but despite the considerable military pageantry of the day, and some confusion around inspecting the guard, it was simply for tea with Queen Elizabeth II.
Further details of what will happen during the three-day visit in September will be announced in due course.
On Friday, Sky News revealed it is now unlikely that the US president will address parliament, usually an honour given to visiting heads of state as part of their visit. Some MPs had raised significant concerns about him being given the privilege.
But the House of Commons will not be sitting at the time of Mr Trump’s visit as it will rise for party conference season on the 16 September, meaning the president will not be able to speak in parliament as President Macron did during his state visit this week. However, the House of Lords will be sitting.
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Labour MP: ‘Trump isn’t welcome here’
In February this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer presented the US president with the letter from the King inviting him to visit during a meeting at the White House.
After reading it, Mr Trump said it was a “great, great honour”, adding “and that says at Windsor – that’s really something”.
In February, Sir Keir Starmer revealed a letter from the King inviting Donald Trump to the UK. Pic: Reuters
In the letter, the King suggested they might meet at Balmoral or Dumfries House in Scotland first before the much grander state visit. However, it is understood that, although all options were explored, complexities in both the King and Mr Trump’s diaries meant it wasn’t possible.
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This week, it emerged that Police Scotland are planning for a summer visit from the US president, which is likely to see him visit one or both of his golf clubs in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire, and require substantial policing resources and probably units to be called in from elsewhere in the UK.
Precedent for second-term US presidents, who have already made a state visit, is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama.
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