There has been a National Patient Safety Alert regarding valproate medicines, which can seriously damage an unborn baby when taken during pregnancy and may lead to permanent disability.

New guidance is in place on the Policies and Documents Library (use search term valproate)

• Two Specialist signatures are needed to initiate an oral valproate medicine in a NEW patient (Refer to new guidance for details).
• Any female under 55 years of age needs to have a Pregnancy Prevention Plan (PPP) in place.
  1. Check PPP is in place for patients already prescribed a valproate medicine.
  2. Set up PPP for patients being newly started on a valproate medicine.
• EPR has been updated with new information to support prescribers