Wales tackles epilepsy scourge

8/2/2008

Wales today announced the first ever UK epilepsy care plan.

Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition in Wales. It is estimated that t between 20,000 and 30,000 people are living with epilepsy and that 1,500 more every year develop the condition.

Around 1,000 people die every year in the UK because of epilepsy and the chance of premature death is two or three times more likely for people living with epilepsy compared to the general population.

The plans include measures to reduce the incidence of epilepsy, help people to self-manage their condition and provide more care closer to people's homes reducing the likelihood of hospital admission. It is estimated that well-managed medication procedures can help around 70 per cent of people with epilepsy to be seizure-free, thereby reducing the risk of emergency admission.

Other measures include:

1. Ensuring prompter assessment, diagnosis and treatment for people with epilepsy.
2. Each Local Health Board will be required to develop a local action plan for epilepsy and ensure that multi-disciplinary teams are in place.
3. Developing appropriate evidence-based care pathways to ensure people with epilepsy are treated in the right place, at the right time and by the right person.

The plans were developed in partnership with the All Wales Epilepsy Forum and other key stakeholders including health and social care professionals with special interests and expertise in epilepsy.

Source: newswales.co.uk