Gateshead woman receives official sodium valproate exposure diagnosis after over 30 years
She hopes it will raise further awareness of the ongoing scandal
After a life-long battle, a Gateshead woman says she has finally been given an official diagnosis of Fetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder.
32-year-old Bethany Dodgson was exposed to sodium valproate before birth as her mum was not properly warned about the risks.
It is a drug her mum took to help with epileptic seizures, but is now linked to serious disabilities in thousands of children.
Bethany said: "For me it's more the stepping stones for any support that might be needed further down the line.
"I've got that foundation now, when before I didn't.
"If I was looking for any kind of support or anything related to the condition, it was just a grey area.
"But now - it's there in black and white.
"Just being told all these letters that can be sent to work, dentists, GPs, it's like I'm not having to fight any more.
She continued to say: "We wouldn't have even got to these steps if it wasn't for the fact that my brother was born and diagnosed at birth with this condition.
"We could have been clueless for years if those notes weren't written down.
"We have been shouting from the rooftops for years that there is something there.
"But for the whole family to be brushed aside, it was extremely frustrating.
"To finally get our answers validated - it's a relief but at the same time, it's like, why have we had to fight so hard."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The harm caused by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh continues to be felt today.
"Our sympathies are with those affected and we are fully focused on how best to support patients and prevent future harm.
“This is a complex area of work and the government is carefully considering the Patient Safety Commissioner’s recommendations in full.”