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Sarah Spooner, a mother from Monmouthshire, was forced to terminate her pregnancy due to severe pregnancy sickness, also known as Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). She urged for better care for women facing similar challenges, recounting her struggle to access Xonvea, an anti-sickness medication widely available in England but not routinely offered in Wales. According to the NHS, HG is characterized by prolonged severe nausea and vomiting that can persist until childbirth. The Welsh government stated that Xonvea could be prescribed in exceptional cases where alternative treatments have failed.
The NHS in Wales estimates that about one to three out of every 100 pregnant women experience HG, although many cases go unreported. Symptoms include severe nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and weight loss, often requiring hospitalization. Sarah, 32, shared her experience of initially being dismissed by healthcare providers during her first pregnancy, only realizing postpartum that she likely had HG after losing weight. Despite being more informed about the condition during her second pregnancy, she faced debilitating sickness, unable to keep water down or eat, leading her to seek out Xonvea as a potential solution.
Xonvea, the only anti-emetic licensed for use in pregnancy to manage nausea and vomiting in the UK, was found by Sarah to be more effective than other medications she had tried. However, the drug is not routinely accessible in Wales or Scotland, though it is available in parts of England. Sarah had to endure challenging circumstances, including her husband having to drive long distances to obtain the medication, before ultimately making the difficult choice to end her pregnancy. She has since launched a petition urging for broader access to Xonvea in Wales, highlighting the disparities faced by individuals living near borders where healthcare provisions differ.
A chief executive of Pregnancy Sickness Support, Charlotte Howden, expressed disbelief at the lack of access to essential medications for pregnant women with HG in Wales. She emphasized the need for fairness and equity in healthcare, advocating for all treatment options to be readily available. The All-Wales Medicine Strategy group (AWMSG), responsible for advising the Welsh government on medication management, stated that there was insufficient cost-effectiveness data regarding Xonvea during their 2019 evaluation. However, the manufacturer, Exeltis UK, reassured that they were collaborating with health boards across Wales to facilitate access to treatment, signaling potential progress in addressing the issue
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