PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Epilepsy: Drugs (21 September 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to (a) reinstate the Quality Outcomes Framework for Epilepsy indicator relating to contraception, conception and pregnancy and (b) give women who are taking anti-epileptic drugs access to pre-conceptional counselling through the Pregnancy Prevention Programme.

Asked by:
Jonathan Reynolds (Labour)

The Quality Outcomes Framework (QoF) indicator which focused upon contraception, conception and pregnancy advice was retired in 2014 due to limitations with measurement.

In July 2018, NHS England and Improvement (NHSE/I) published the ‘Report of the Review of the Quality and Outcomes Framework in England.’ This identified a number of principles for the reform of QoF which NHS E/I are continuing to implement, including a focus upon quality improvement activities in areas where metric development is challenging, and upon an increased personalisation of care. The report is available via the link below:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/report-of-the-review-of-the-quality-and-outcomes-framework-in-england/

NHS E/I continue to keep the QoF epilepsy domain under review, and are exploring the potential for new indicators to be developed and implemented.

Every pregnant woman taking the anti-epilepsy drug valproate must be enrolled in the statutory Pregnancy Prevention Programme, and every healthcare professional involved in the prescribing and dispensing of valproate (so for example GPs and pharmacists) must ensure women are aware of the serious risks to pregnancy valproate presents.

Following advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, the available data relating to safety of use of non-valproate epileptic medicines during pregnancy is currently being evaluated. As part of this review, the product information for prescribers and patients will be evaluated to ensure that it is clear and up to date, including the need for preconception counselling, as appropriate. The communications from this review will be made publicly available in order to support informed decision making about the most appropriate choice of antiepileptic treatment in the individual case.

Answered by:
Jo Churchill (Conservative)
22 December 2020