Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure the provision of specialist training for healthcare professionals on (a) the symptoms of, (b) complications arising from and (c) available support for people affected by Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is exploring options for strengthening the provision of specialist training for healthcare professionals when supporting people impacted by sodium valproate through its 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 and expertise to support diagnosis 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, including staff development and training recommendations for healthcare professionals, to NHS England at the end of September. This will inform wider discussions about service delivery models and wider coverage across England.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
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.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
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.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of children who received a diagnosis of Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder between (a) January 2010 to 2015, (b) January 2015 to 2020 and (c) January 2020 to 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. The information requested is not collected centrally.
The National Disease Registration Service in NHS England, which collects and quality assures data about people with congenital anomalies and rare diseases across the whole of England, is assessing the feasibility and reliability of better ascertainment of foetal sodium valproate syndrome by linking data in the congenital anomaly register to primary care prescription data. Further information on the National Disease Registration Service is available at the following link:
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure the provisions of (a) education and (b) training to help midwives support pregnant women who have been diagnosed with epilepsy.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is the responsibility of approved education institutions and practice partners to develop the specific content and design of midwifery programmes to meet standards set by the midwifery regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients, including for pregnant women who have been diagnosed with epilepsy.
Guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on epilepsies in children, young people, and adults, last updated in January 2025, has a number of recommendations for supporting pregnant women with epilepsy. The NICE guidance states that women and girls with epilepsy who are planning pregnancy or who are pregnant should be referred to an epilepsy specialist team for a review of their antiseizure medication options. Information should be shared between the epilepsy specialist team, a specialist obstetric team, and primary care professionals. Discussions should take place about the relative benefits and risks of adjusting medication, including discussing the balance between the risks of poorly controlled seizures and the risks to the baby when antiseizure medicines are taken during pregnancy, so that an informed decision can be made.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
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 with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce waiting times for (a) child and adolescent mental health services, (b) paediatric services and (c) other services for people affected d by foetal valproate spectrum disorder.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department will continue to work across Government and with the National Health Service to reduce waiting times to access support for the mental and physical health needs of people with rare conditions like foetal valproate spectrum disorder.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a public awareness campaign on foetal valproate spectrum disorder.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are mechanisms in place to minimise the risk of foetal harm associated with valproate, and to ensure that healthcare professionals are also able to support any babies and families that are affected. These are considered to be more targeted than a public awareness campaign.
The valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme ensures that women and girls taking valproate understand the potential risks should they become pregnant, are using effective contraception, and are regularly monitored. It is supported by educational materials for healthcare professionals and patients, and describes the neurodevelopmental disorders and major congenital malformations associated with the use of valproate in pregnancy, with information available electronically and in a hard copy format for healthcare professionals.
The programme was updated in January 2024 to reflect updated Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency advice that valproate must not be started in new patients, either male or female, younger than 55 years old, unless two specialists independently consider and document that there is no other effective or tolerated treatment, or there are compelling reasons that the reproductive risks do not apply. It was advised that women and girls of childbearing potential already receiving valproate should have their treatment discussed by two specialists at their next annual review. The requirement for two specialists to review these patients is a one off, and subsequent annual reviews required under the Pregnancy Prevention Programme are undertaken by a single specialist.
Further information on the valproate pregnancy prevention programmes is available at the following link:
In addition, there are 14 Maternal Medicine Networks, in place across England, who provide expert care to women with complex medical conditions, including epilepsy, before, during, and after pregnancy, to ensure appropriate investigation and management to improve maternal and foetal outcomes.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase cardiac screening for people with a familial risk of sudden cardiac death.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK National Screening Committee last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death in young people in December 2019. After carefully considering the evidence, the committee concluded that a screening programme in all young people under the age of 39 years old should not be offered in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/screening-for-risk-of-sudden-cardiac-death-not-recommended
Research showed that current tests are not accurate enough to use in young people without symptoms. Incorrect test results can cause harm by giving false reassurance to individuals with the condition, which may have been missed by the screening test, whilst individuals without the condition may receive a positive test result, which can lead to unnecessary tests and treatments.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the National Screening Committee plans to publish an update to guidance on screening for sudden cardiac death in people under 39.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is currently examining the evidence for this condition and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course. Further information, including on how to keep up to date on the work of the UK NSC, is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-national-screening-committee
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to (a) improve the early detection of cancer, (b) reduce cancer care waiting times and (c) increase cancer survival rates.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As the chances of survival are higher if a cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, early diagnosis is a key priority for the Government. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan, which will complement the 10-Year Health Plan and support delivery of the Government’s Health Mission, will set out further actions to improve early diagnosis.
Reducing waiting times for cancer care is also a priority for the Government. As the first step to ensuring faster diagnosis and treatment, we have delivered an extra 100,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week.
The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for all cancer patients across the country, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It will aim to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and will ultimately bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of offering prostate cancer screening to men considered to be at high risk on (a) NHS costs and (b) health outcomes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is guided on screening policy by the UK National Screening Committee. The committee has commissioned a university to carry out a high quality review and cost effectiveness model of the evidence for a national prostate cancer screening programme. The work will include costs and health outcomes. This includes targeted approaches to high risk groups and an offer to all men defined by age. The committee expects to receive the report later this year.