Families criticise delays to inquiry into epilepsy drug valproate

Debbie Adams, whose two daughters, aged 13 and 11, live with Fetal Valproate Syndrome said: 'I’ve no faith in the system.' Photo: Moya Nolan

Families have criticised inordinate delays to the opening of an inquiry into the prescribing of valproate to pregnant women for epilepsy.

Families affected by the prescribing of sodium valproate, which can cause serious birth defects and development disorders, were told last year that the inquiry would begin "within weeks" but there is now no timeline of it starting.