Sodium Valporate Letter of claim template - NHS Resolution - Compensation claim

Sep 16, 2026

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Letter of claim template for a compensation claim relating to advice and prescription of Sodium Valproate (Epilim) provided before and/or after conception. The form collects claimant and child details, a detailed prescribing and dosing chronology, hospitals and clinicians involved, and information on pregnancy counselling, fetal risk, referrals, and specialist assessments. It also prompts structure for allegations of negligence, breach of duty, causation, injury/disability description, and heads of financial loss including past, ongoing, and future costs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Letter of claim

Claimant and case details

Events giving rise to the claim

Chronology

Suggested sub-headings

Allegation of negligence

Causation

Injuries

Heads of loss

Template ‘Letter of claim’ Dear NHS Resolution Letter of claim [Claimant’s name] –v- [Defendant’s Name] I wish to pursue a claim for compensation in relation to the advice provided to meand prescription of Sodium Valproate before and/or after the conception of my child [ add name] who was born with [Foetal Valproate Syndrome/ or describe other injuries/disabilities alleged] as a result. The treatment was provided at [name of hospital or treatment centre] by [name of clinician(s) if known] on [insert date(s)] . Claimant’s details: • [Full name including any previous name] • [Date ofbirth] • [Address including any previous addresses at the time of events referred to] • [NHS Number] • [National Insurance number] Events giving rise to the claim: • Summarise your case in a few paragraphs • Include as much of the following information as possible: 1. Date when Sodium Valproate (or Epilim) first prescribed and until what date, 2. At what dose(s), 3. By whom prescribed both initially and throughout treatment 4. Where prescribed [name of hospitals, clinics etc]. 5. Any other anti-epilepsy drugs prescribed including dose, dates, where and who prescribed them. 6. Include details of any advice given in relation to side effects and risk including risks to a fetus in pregnancy (if applicable) by who and when. 7. Date ofbirth of child affected by Sodium Valproate in pregnancy 8. Which hospital or doctors treated you in pregnancy and any advice given in relation to Sodium Valproate. • If Sodium Valproate was prescribed for epilepsy, please include details such as types of epilepsy and seizures and seizure control achieved with / without Sodium Valproate and any other medication if applicable. • Provide details of any specialist referrals (i.e. paediatrics, neurology, obstetrics) including date of referral and assessment(s). • Include details for all hospitals attended. • Where mum has been registered with more than one GP practice, please provide an outline of what happened, including details of other relevant treatments to the client by other healthcare providers Chronology This should be based on the medical records. Include dates, names of hospitals and doctors involved in your treatment on each date, and briefly what happened. If you do not consider that the medical records provide full details of what happened, set out clearly where that is the case and what you say happened. Suggested sub-headings: Pre-conception Please set out what advice and treatment you received in relation to Sodium Valproate before your child was conceived. See above regarding relevant information to be included Post-conception Please set out what advice and treatment you received in relation to Sodium Valproate during your pregnancy. Provide details of ante-natal care including scans. See above regarding relevant information to be included Birth Provide details of the labour and birth of your child, how they were in the immediate period after this birth including: 􀂃 Child’s condition when born and in the neonatal period 􀂃 Child’s Apgar scores and whether resuscitation or other specialist treatment was needed for your child 􀂃 Seizures / seizure control in relation to mum and medication prescribed Allegation of negligence: It is my case that the standard of care that was provided by [list all relevant defendants] fell below that which was to be expected from a reasonable body of opinion in that discipline and as such amounts to a breach of duty. • Set out allegations of breach of duty of care (failures), broken down into preconception and post-conception (if applicable) or other relevant periods. It is helpful to provide this in a short list rather than long narrative. Vague allegations will cause delay. • Be specific regarding the allegations e.g. if you allege that the advice given to you about the risks of Sodium Valproate was sub-standard, explain why it was sub-standard and w

FAQs

What information must the claimant provide about Sodium Valproate prescriptions and advice?

Include dates first prescribed through treatment, doses, who prescribed it, where it was prescribed, and any other anti-epilepsy drugs with dose and dates. Also set out advice given on side effects and fetal risks, including who gave the advice and when.

How should the claimant structure allegations of negligence and breach of duty?

Allege specific failures of duty of care broken into pre-conception and post-conception (as applicable). Explain why advice or treatment was substandard, what alternative treatment should have been provided, and reference relevant guidelines, protocols, case law, and any supportive expert evidence.

What evidence and details are requested to support causation and injuries?

State what would have happened differently but for the alleged failures, including alternative medication or when it should have been stopped and the expected effects. Then describe the child’s diagnosed injuries or disabilities with timing, location, clinicians, severity, impact, and whether an expert report is available.

Sep 16, 2026

Upload by Graffin