Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review: Sodium Valproate

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd March 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bethell (Con)]

I am grateful to the noble Lord for raising that study. It is not one that I am aware of, and I am keen to go back to the department to find out whether it has done any analysis of it. I will write to the noble Lord with a response.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB) [V]]

My Lords, the report First Do No Harm underlines the hurt and devastation that can result from not making patients aware of the possible side-effects of drugs. The harm done by giving sodium valproate during pregnancy cannot be undone, and generous support should be provided. Does the Minister agree that, while the appointment of a patient safety commissioner is a move in the right direction, that in itself underlines the importance of keeping patients fully informed of possible side-effects and listening to their concerns?

[Lord Bethell (Con)]

The noble Lord puts it extremely well and I totally agree with the thrust of his point. For patients to have the right information about the risks of the medicines that they are prescribed is essential. However, if I may stray into a different subject, there is also patient choice. For many patients, sodium valproate provides an incredibly valuable relief from epilepsy and mental illness. It is a drug that continues to be prescribed because some have no choice and there is no valid alternative to the drug. The number of people being newly prescribed the drug—new starters—is down dramatically from previous years, but for some it really is an important part of their therapy. The decisions that they make are personal ones, and we should respect those.