Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to raise awareness among (a) healthcare professionals and (b) patients of the safe (i) prescription and (ii) use of sodium valproate.

Information to support the safe use of medicines such as valproate is provided in the product information which consists of the summary of product characteristics for healthcare professionals and the patient information leaflet that is supplied with each pack of medicines. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued many communications in its Drug Safety Update bulletin informing and raising awareness among healthcare professionals about safety concerns associated with valproate, particularly the risks associated with use of valproate during pregnancy.

Preparations are underway to introduce new measures to ensure all healthcare professionals and patients are aware of the reproductive risks associated with valproate which will be supported by a comprehensive information once the details are finalised.