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The Department of Health (England) Action Plan for Improving Services for People with Epilepsy

Will It Improve Quality of Care?

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  • Published:
Disease Management & Health Outcomes

Abstract

Issues related to avoidable mortality in people with epilepsy have been highlighted in the National Sentinel Clinical Audit of Epilepsy-Related Death in the UK. This audit concluded that 39% of adult epilepsy-related deaths and 59% of epilepsy-related deaths in children were potentially or probably avoidable. Particular attention was drawn to the important and poorly understood condition of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. This audit prompted a report by the Chief Medical Officer, which was followed by a document prepared by the Department of Health (England) entitled Improving Services for People with Epilepsy: Department of Health Action Plan in Response to the National Clinical Audit of Epilepsy-Related Deaths. The action plan comprises the following sections: (i) Introduction; (ii) Pathology and Post Mortem Investigations; (iii) Improving Care Management and Treatment of Epilepsy; and (iv) Information Provision. The fact that the Department of Health in England has drawn attention to these important matters is in itself worthwhile. However, the action plan does not give a firm commitment to taking the necessary steps required to rectify the shortcomings in the current services.

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Acknowledgments

The author is grateful for the very helpful discussions with and assistance from Jane Hanna (Epilepsy Bereaved), Phil Lee (Epilepsy Action), David Josephs (National Society for Epilepsy and Joint Epilepsy Council), the Department of Health (Richmond House, Whitehall, London, UK), Professor C.E. Polkey (neurosurgeon), and Dr E.H. Reynolds (Global Campaign for Epilepsy), although the views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the discussants.

For a more in-depth review of this topic, readers are directed to the following article: The Department of Health Action Plan “Improving Services for People with Epilepsy”: A Significant Advance or Only A First Step? Seizure 2004 [in press].

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. The author has no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bedfordshire & Luton Community NHS Trust, UK

    Frank M. C. Besag MB, ChB, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych, FRCPCH (Specialist Medical Department, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist and Research Director)

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  1. Frank M. C. Besag MB, ChB, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych, FRCPCH
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Correspondence to Frank M. C. Besag MB, ChB, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych, FRCPCH.

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Besag, F.M.C. The Department of Health (England) Action Plan for Improving Services for People with Epilepsy. Dis-Manage-Health-Outcomes 12, 143–146 (2004). https://doi.org/10.2165/00115677-200412030-00001

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00115677-200412030-00001

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