As our members, volunteers and supporters will be aware, last year after a joint campaign with our colleagues in OACS Ireland, Government approval was secured for the establishment of an inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of Sodium Valproate.
Following this approval, focus turned to the recruitment of a Chairperson by the Department of Health for the inquiry. Unfortunately, this proved to a be a more difficult process than initially envisaged and in an update on the recruitment of a chair, the Department of Health is now seeking candidates for Chairperson for the Inquiry via the Public Appointments Service.
Expression of Interests can be submitted by candidates up until 3:00pm, 24th April. Further information on the process can be found by visiting the Gov.ie website.
We welcome this development and hope it will lead to a Chair being appointed and the inquiry being established as soon as possible so families affected can have their voices heard. When further updates become available on this matter, we will share them on our website and social media channels.
To learn more about this campaign, visit the ‘Advocacy’ section of our website.
**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS. DO NOT STOP TAKING VALPROATE WITHOUT FIRST SPEAKING WITH YOUR PRESCRIBER.**