We recently met with Health Minister Zubir Ahmed and MP Jessica Toale to discuss the aims of our campaign.
The meeting should have been with Health Secretary, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting, after he made a commitment in Parliament to meet us. However, various obstacles were placed in our way on the day in question - Layla Moran MP and Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee were scheduled to attend, but we found out in the morning that she was unwell.
Later in the day, just 10 minutes ahead of the meeting, we found out that Mr Streeting could not attend. This was the day that the Prime Minister’s two top aides resigned – so there was indeed a lot going on in the corridors of Westminster!
We were really disappointed by this and we will endeavour to get Mr Streeting in the room, as was his promise.
The meeting did go ahead with a Junior Health Minister and officials, and I have to say we were pleasantly surprised at the amount of progress that the Department had made, and the positive conversation that took place.
I should also say that the support of Jessica Toale was excellent and we greatly appreciate her work for the campaign, inspired by her constituent Jan Hall.
The Health Secretary has previously issued a formal apology - you can read that letter here.
We discussed the three main pillars of the campaign: Awareness, Screening and Accountability.
The Department of Health confirmed they were ensuring GP’s are informed about specialist DES-related cancers and are developing local treatment pathways for DES. The are also looking to do a rapid evidence assessment to better understand the intergenerational impacts of DES and what screening is required for those affected. We also asked for:
- Better information of the NHS website for those affected by DES.
- More research.
- DES to be included in the National Cancer Plan
- For DES to be considered under the Rare Cancers category.
- Better answers from the MHRA (Medicines Health Regulation Authority) into what went wrong.
- A Statutory Public Inquiry - this campaign deserves answers, the Who, What, Where, and Why of this toxic drug. It is our firm belief that there has been a cover up.
We also discussed lots of the issues that you have raised, including infertility, costs associated with fertility treatment and private treatment, feelings of guilt, gaslighting, medical misogyny, impact on life, mental health, relationships, screening and the issue relating to obtaining medical records.
We intend to follow up on this with the Department of Health and are committed to keeping the pressure on.
Following the meeting, they issues the following statement. Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation and Safety Minister said:
"I want to thank Susannah Martin and fellow campaigners for their remarkable courage in shedding light on the significant and lasting harm caused by DES.
“Despite women continuing to endure the devastating impacts of the drug a generation on, this issue has been ignored for decades, and health professionals have been unaware of the impacts of DES and the support that should be offered to those exposed for too long.
“As I discussed with Susannah today, this government has worked with cancer alliances to ensure NHS clinicians are aware of the impacts of DES and NHS screening guidance. We're also exploring the need for further clinical guidelines and what can be done to boost research into the long-term and generational impacts of this drug, which will help inform what further action is required.”
