Farron urges Government to take action over epilepsy deaths

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jun 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has today tabled a Parliamentary Question urging the Government to take action over sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP), by establishing a national monitoring and research centre. Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological disease, affecting around 1 in 130 people in England, which is a similar number to those suffering diabetes. Unfortunately, deaths as a direct result of epilepsy are rising, and even with optimal care 30% of people with epilepsy will continue to have seizures, and so will continue to be at risk from unexplainable death.

Commenting, Mr Farron, who is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Epilepsy, said:

"For many people with epilepsy it is a life long disease, but despite its prevalence does not enjoy a lot of media exposure, and so often falls under the radar of both the public and politicians. I hope by raising this issue with the Department of Health we can get them to sit up and take notice if this problem. I intend to campaign as hard as possible to establish a national monitoring centre to conduct research into SUDEP - current treatment service improvements will help, but unless we can monitor and understand this issue we will never find a solution, leaving the third of sufferers who would still have seizures at risk of unexplained death.

"If the Government wishes to make a real difference to the health of epilepsy sufferers, NHS R&D funding should be invested in a national monitoring centre as soon as possible - greater understanding of epilepsy will take us closer to lessening the risk of death, and one day hopefully a cure, which surely is a target any Government should aim for."