Inquiry begins into prescribing of anti-epilepsy drug
The non-statutory inquiry into the use of sodium valproate, sold under the brand name Epilim, is scheduled to last between 12 and 18 months.
It is estimated over 1,000 children have been impacted in Ireland since the 1970s.
The inquiry, which will be chaired by barrister Bríd O'Flaherty, will be divided into a number of strands.
The first will be the review phase, which will establish a timeline of the use of the drug including information on safety and regulation.
The Department of Health said the inquiry will have responsibility to request documentation from a range of stakeholders and will be obliged to record any difficulties where such requests are refused.
The second phase will be made up of oral statements from affected families.
These sessions will be held in private.
Other phases will focus on assessing the health services' current capacity to respond to safety issues related to the use of anti-seizure medications in women.
The department said necessary data regulations were passed last week in the Dáil and Seanad.
Families have been campaigning for years for an inquiry to be held and have welcomed the fact that it began today.
The department has previously said sodium valproate is an effective medication for some and those taking it should not make any changes to treatment without first discussing it with their doctor.
The department has also previously said while sodium valproate is an effective and essential treatment for some patients, it can cause birth defects, neurodevelopmental disorders and autism in children whose mothers take such medicines during pregnancy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Minister for Health backs opening of two new surgical hubs in north west
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has given her backing for the opening of two new surgical hubs in the north west region. The plans will see the construction of a new surgical hub close to Sligo University Hospital, while at Letterkenny University Hospital in Co Donegal, a new surgical hub is proposed along with expanded oncology services. It comes after regional HSE management had previously identified a site in Sligo as the sole preferred option for a new surgical hub in the north west region. That decision was strongly criticised by Donegal-based clinicians, who subsequently met with Minister Carroll MacNeill and raised their concerns with her in relation to "population need and geographical logic". Minister Carroll MacNeill has now given her support to the opening of two new surgical hubs, following a proposal from CEO of the Health Service Executive (HSE) Bernard Gloster. Such surgical hubs allow for the delivery of day-case surgeries and minor procedures. The plan, which has been given the green light today, will see the construction of a new stand-alone two-theatre surgical hub in Sligo. The Department of Health has said the facility will significantly expand elective surgical capacity in the region, and it will help reduce waiting times and improve access to scheduled surgical care. Meanwhile, a new two-theatre surgical hub will be built beside the existing Letterkenny University Hospital building, along with the addition of 30 ambulatory day oncology chairs - 15 new and 15 replacement. The Department of Health has said this dual investment will enhance both surgical and cancer treatment services in Co Donegal. The design of the new surgical hub in Letterkenny will also allow for future vertical expansion, addressing the long-term need for additional bed capacity in the region. The HSE will now begin drawing up planning applications for both sites, which will be prepared in parallel and include engagement with Donegal and Sligo county councils. In a statement issued this morning, the Minister for Health said increasing surgical activity in the west and north west of the country is a "clear priority" for the Government. Minister Carroll MacNeill said: "Today marks an important milestone in delivering on that commitment, and I am happy to support this proposal from the HSE. "I know Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West North West, and his team will now begin progressing these proposals, working closely with hospital management, clinical specialities, and the estates team to advance the design phase, secure planning permission, and prepare for tendering the construction works. "These investments align with our Ambulatory Elective Day Care Strategy and the National Cancer Control Programme. They will ensure that patients in the North-West have timely access to high-quality surgical and oncology care. "I look forward to returning to see the progress of these developments, which will make a real and lasting difference to people's lives in the region," the minister added. The HSE classes a surgical hub as a facility which deals with "high volume, low complexity" elective procedures, treatments and diagnostics. Such elective procedures include biopsies, endoscopies, steroid injections, carpal tunnel treatment, tonsillectomies, cataract treatments, varicose veins treatments, hernia repairs and other keyhole surgeries. Once operational, each surgical hub is expected to deliver over 28,000 day-to-day cases, minor operations and outpatient consultations every year.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Problems with ambulance cover in Louth raised in Seanad
It follows the revelation on last week that the town has been left with no ambulance on occasions due to difficulties with the Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System. This decides which crews and where should respond to the 1200, 999 calls the National Ambulance Services receives across the country every day. However the system has a tendency to occasionally over prioritise what later emerges as non emergency calls leaving places like Drogheda without any ambulance crews. Now the Seanad is to summon the Health Minister Jennifer McNeil Carroll to appear before it to explain what exactly is going on. Senator Comyn told the Seanad: "I want to raise an issue of serious concern that was reported in the Drogheda Independent this week relating to ambulance cover in Drogheda and the wider north-east region. "Paramedics quoted in the article say that Drogheda is regularly left without a local ambulance as crews are being dispatched long distances for non-urgent calls that could and should be managed differently. "The core issue appears to be the advanced medical priority dispatch system, AMPDS which paramedics say is over triaging and sending highly trained emergency responders to calls for things like shaving cuts, stomach aches and high temperatures while real time critical emergencies go uncovered. "This has created a real fear among frontline responders that a life threatening emergency could occur with no unit available to respond quickly." She said she knows the National Ambulance Service has defended AMPDS on clinical grounds but the concerns raised by the paramedics in the DI are credible and come from professionals working on the ground. She stated: "An awareness campaign highlighting alternatives for patients would be timely. Patients can use GPs, go to their local pharmacist or use the doctor on call service.. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more "There is a misconception that getting an ambulance to the accident and emergency department will get a patient seen sooner but that is not always the case. "There issues deserve constructive and transparent discussion. For that reason I ask that the MInister for Health Deputy Carroll McNeil come before the House to address these concerns, clarify how AMPDS is being monitored on a nationwide basis and assure communities in the north east and around the country that they will not be left exposed in moments of serious crisis." The Leader of the Seanard Senator Sean Kyne said Alison Comyn had raised an" interesting" case in terms of the over-triaging of ambulance calls which means the more urgent calls are not being dealt with. He said: "I will certainly request a debate with the Minister for Health on the ambulance service."
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- RTÉ News
Inquiry begins into prescribing of anti-epilepsy drug
An inquiry has begun into the historical prescribing of an anti-epilepsy drug which can cause birth defects if used during pregnancy. The non-statutory inquiry into the use of sodium valproate, sold under the brand name Epilim, is scheduled to last between 12 and 18 months. It is estimated over 1,000 children have been impacted in Ireland since the 1970s. The inquiry, which will be chaired by barrister Bríd O'Flaherty, will be divided into a number of strands. The first will be the review phase, which will establish a timeline of the use of the drug including information on safety and regulation. The Department of Health said the inquiry will have responsibility to request documentation from a range of stakeholders and will be obliged to record any difficulties where such requests are refused. The second phase will be made up of oral statements from affected families. These sessions will be held in private. Other phases will focus on assessing the health services' current capacity to respond to safety issues related to the use of anti-seizure medications in women. The department said necessary data regulations were passed last week in the Dáil and Seanad. Families have been campaigning for years for an inquiry to be held and have welcomed the fact that it began today. The department has previously said sodium valproate is an effective medication for some and those taking it should not make any changes to treatment without first discussing it with their doctor. The department has also previously said while sodium valproate is an effective and essential treatment for some patients, it can cause birth defects, neurodevelopmental disorders and autism in children whose mothers take such medicines during pregnancy.
