Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department are taking to support people affected by foetal valproate spectrum disorder.

Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies.

To improve the support available to children and adults impacted by sodium valproate, NHS England commissioned a Fetal Exposure to Medicine Pilot project. The pilot project is being led by the Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust and the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The pilot project started in December 2024 and will run for 18 months, and provides assessment, expert advice, and treatment planning for people impacted by sodium valproate and other anti-seizure medication. The pilot project will be presenting initial learning and key themes to NHS England at the end of September to inform discussions about future service delivery models and options for wider coverage across England.