Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that those harmed by sodium valproate in pregnancy are supported by adequate health services following the recommendations by the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, published on 8 July 2020.
If there is a need for those of childbearing age to take sodium valproate, their doctor will include them on the valproate pregnancy prevention programme. This is designed to make sure patients are fully aware of the risks and the need to avoid becoming pregnant.
The National Health Service has commissioned the Paediatric Neurosciences Clinical Reference Group to support the development of pathways of care service specification to support improvements for patient support and co-ordination, ensuring vital targeted follow-up of infants at risk.
A multi-disciplinary expert clinical group with experience in responding to and managing teratogen exposure has been established and will report its recommendations to NHS England and NHS Improvement in March 2022.