Sodium valproate can cause major birth defects including disabilities if taken during pregnancy. A report into the issue by Dr Henrietta Hughes, the Patient Safety Commissioner for England, was published in 2024 and has not received a response from the UK government.

In a joint letter to the new UK Public Health and Patient Safety Minister Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Health for Northern Ireland Robbie Butler, Scotland’s Public Health Minister Maree Todd and the Welsh government Cabinet Minister for Health Mabon ap Gwynfor urged the UK government to act.

Mr Butler said: “Those who have been harmed by sodium valproate have had to wait too long for a formal response to the recommendations in the Hughes Report.

“This has been stressed on many occasions in meetings with colleagues from across the UK.

“Unfortunately, as the regulation of Medicines and Medical Devices sits with Westminster, none of the devolved administrations can move forward until there is a response from the UK Government.”

“I fully acknowledge the stress and challenges experienced by the affected families and it is paramount that collectively we remain focused on supporting them.

“They have waited far too long for certainty and deserve to have a clear understanding of the next steps.”