Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder: Fatalities

Debate between Caroline Nokes and Cat Smith

Wednesday 7th December 2022 Commons Chamber

[Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)]

I congratulate the right hon. Member on securing this debate on such an important issue. She is touching on the issue of women currently taking sodium valproate when they are of child-bearing age and the number of pregnancies we are still seeing. While more needs to be done with GPs to ensure that these women understand the risks and that there are pregnancy prevention plans, does she agree that it is important to say that any women listening to our debate this evening should keep taking their medication until they have had that conversation with a GP, because sodium valproate is also a lifesaving drug?

[Caroline Nokes]

The hon. Lady is absolutely right, and I will come on to say that none of us is advocating that valproate be banned.