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Sodium Valproate: Compensation

Asked by Bob BlackmanConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 27 January 2026UIN 107360

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that people who have brought forward cases relating to the unsafe prescription of sodium valproate are not denied access to justice due to their (a) cases being complex and (b) disability.

Answered by Dr Zubir Ahmed

NHS Resolution (NHSR) is the body that manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England, and a full list of their clinical schemes can be found at the following link:

https://resolution.nhs.uk/services/claims-management/clinical-schemes/

NHSR has published in their most recent Annual Report and Accounts, for 2024/25, that they offer simplified processes for vaginal mesh claims and sodium valproate claims to be reported to them by unrepresented claimants. They refer to these simplified processes as gateways. Further details can be found on page 41 of their NHS Resolution Annual report and accounts 2024/25, at the following link:

https://resolution.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NHS-Resolution-ARA-24-25_ACCESSIBLE.pdf

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