Parents of children harmed by drug fearful for future
BBCA couple from Bognor Regis whose children were harmed by an epilepsy drug used during pregnancy have said they fear for the future as the wait for financial redress goes on.
Janet Stockley-Pollard, who took sodium valproate, branded as Epilim, during all her pregnancies, said she was unaware of its side effects at the time.
All four of her children have been affected, and the Stockley-Pollards are among those campaigning for compensation in line with two separate recommendations.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said a decision on financial redress had not yet been made, while manufacturer Sanofi said it understood "the concerns of persons affected".
Stockley-Pollard's four children, now aged 26, 28, 36 and 38, have all been diagnosed with foetal valproate syndrome, which can lead to neurodevelopmental issues, autism and congenital malformations.
Their difficulties include a-typical autism, bowel problems and poor working memory, said the 58-year-old, who was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 14.
As she approaches 60, with her husband Steve now 68, Stockley-Pollard has expressed concern about "what's going to happen when we as parents aren't there to look after them anymore".
As many as 20,000 children were exposed to the drug, and there has been a push for compensation since its side effects came to light.
From the early 2000s, evidence started to emerge of neurodevelopmental effects of sodium valproate during pregnancy, an association with verbal IQ and autism spectrum disorders.
As a result of concerns raised, the then secretary of state for health and social care, Jeremy Hunt, announced a review into sodium valproate.
The review was led by Baroness Julia Cumberlege, and was the first to recommend financial redress.
The same recommendation was repeated in the Hughes report published by England's patient safety commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes, in 2024.
When asked how she sees the prospect of redress, Stockley-Pollard said: "I don't know. I feel like they have to [provide this], but we've been hopeful before and those hopes have been dashed."
The 58-year-old she should be "looking towards" a restful retirement with her husband, but she does not see a time when they do not have significant caring responsibilities for their children.
Stockley-Pollard, who admitted she "always" felt guilty for taking the drug, said: "If I'd have known the consequences, I certainly wouldn't have put my children through this."
On Monday, the BBC aired Mums vs Big Pharma, a documentary exploring the campaign.
The DHSC said the government was "determined to make progress on its response to the Hughes report".
A spokesperson for Sanofi said it understood "the concerns of persons affected by valproate and their families and their need to be heard".
They added: "The use of valproate in pregnancy is an incredibly complex issue that involves many different parties including government, regulators, doctors and other prescribers, pharmacists, manufacturers, patients, and other people affected...
"We are committed to working with all concerned stakeholders to continue educating about the risks and precautions for the appropriate use of valproate."
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