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Sodium Valproate: Death

Asked by Bob BlackmanConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 27 January 2026UIN 106965

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government records deaths where harm caused by sodium valproate exposure is listed as a contributing factor.

Answered by Dr Zubir Ahmed

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects and publishes mortality statistics for deaths registered in England and Wales. Deaths in which harm caused by sodium valproate exposure is a contributing factor are not captured as a distinct, searchable category in ONS mortality statistics. Further information on mortality statistics is available on the ONS website, at the following link:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/methodologies/userguidetomortalitystatisticsjuly2017#:~:text=Mortality%20statistics%20are%20gathered%20using,data%20for%20the%20previous%20period

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