Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that healthcare professionals are aware of the findings of the safety review of epilepsy medicines in pregnancy, published by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency on 7 January 2021.

The conclusions of the Commission on Human Medicines’ safety review were communicated to healthcare professional via the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Drug Safety Update bulletin and an accompanying public assessment report. A news release and social media accompanied the publication alongside email alerts that targeted relevant healthcare professionals, prescribing publications and professional organisations. The MHRA is also working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Association of British Neurologists to update relevant clinical guidance to reflect the findings of the review. The impact of this review and the uptake of communications will be monitored and consideration be given to the need for further communications to healthcare professionals.