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 all babies of women taking Valproate during pregnancy receive a thorough examination at birth by a geneticist for diagnosis of Fetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder.

There is no simple test to diagnose fetal valproate syndrome. Where a patient has taken valproate during pregnancy and has concerns regarding their child’s health, advice should be sought from their general practitioner. The child may be referred to a specialist for an assessment. In December 2020, the ‘Guidance Document on Valproate Use in Women and Girls of Childbearing Years’ was published, which provides recommendations for healthcare professionals where there are concerns for children born to mothers who have taken valproate during pregnancy.