Commenting on the announcement of the Medicines and Medical Safety Devices Review, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sodium Valproate Norman Lamb MP said:

“I welcome this review and the new measures to strengthen warnings about the dangers of taking sodium valproate during pregnancy.

“However, as well as looking at how the healthcare system responds to concerns raised by patients, the review must get to the bottom of how these scandals were allowed to happen in the first place. We know that regulators deliberately withheld information from women about the risks of valproate in the early 1970s. Thousands of women and children suffered life-changing consequences as a result.

“The Government must also commit to delivering justice for those who have been harmed by these scandals, including compensation and a care plan for those who need it. It is not enough for the review to simply focus on learning lessons from the past. There is an absolute duty to do right by these people, many of whom have suffered for several decades.

“The APPG on Sodium Valproate is developing an evidence submission to Government which will make the case for a care plan and financial support for the thousands of families affected by Fetal Valproate Syndrome. We look forward to engaging with Baroness Cumberlege to ensure that this is considered as part of the review process.”