Outstanding Valproate Commitments raised in Dáil and media.

Last Updated: Fri, 20/05/2022 – 07:17

In the Dáil last week, Deputy Pearse Doherty raised the need for the establishment of the promised inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of Sodium Valproate (Epilim). https://bit.ly/3PAeWmo

We and our colleagues in Epilepsy Ireland are continuing to liaise with the Department of Health regarding the establishment of the inquiry and to finalise the Terms of Reference for same. 

You can see Deputy Doherty’s contribution in the video below.

Meanwhile, recent coverage in the Medical Independent has highlighted the other remaining outstanding commitments regarding Sodium Valproate. These include providing pathways of care for families who have been impacted and ensuring that no child will be impacted by valproate in the future.

You can read the coverage about this by visiting the Medical Independent website; as well as an additional article highlighting the personal impact of Sodium Valproate on the same website.

HSE ‘has not sought funding’ for valproate supports.

Valproate and the missing supports. By Catherine Reilly – 17th May 2022

We would like to thank Deputy Doherty for raising this matter, and the Medical Independent for their continued coverage surrounding Sodium Valproate.

Alongside our colleagues in OACS Ireland, we will continue to use every avenue available to us to bring the outstanding commitments surrounding Sodium Valproate to fruition, including:

  1. The establishment of the inquiry into the historical licensing & prescribing of Sodium Valproate
  2. The establishment of a Stakeholder Group to review and strengthen existing risk reduction measures
  3. The recruitment of four Epilepsy Nurse Specialists to help ensure the implementation of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme for the circa 1,500 women who are currently taking Sodium Valproate in Ireland.
  4. The need for a full disability package families impacted by Sodium Valproate.

We will provide any further updates we receive on the above on our website and social media channels.

** Please do not stop taking Sodium Valproate (Epilim) without first speaking to your healthcare professionals **