A report has revealed a lack of epilepsy planning from many clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and health and wellbeing boards (HWBs).
Released by Epilepsy Action, a new map and accompanying report show three out of 140 HWBs in England can prove they are making local plans for people with epilepsy.
Around 10% of CCGs have a written needs assessment in place for people with epilepsy.
A report has revealed a lack of epilepsy planning from many clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and health and wellbeing boards (HWBs).
Released by Epilepsy Action, a new map and accompanying report show three out of 140 HWBs in England can prove they are making local plans for people with epilepsy.
Around 10% of CCGs have a written needs assessment in place for people with epilepsy.
And 78% of CCGs surveyed for the report have not developed, and do not intend to develop a written needs assessment for people with epilepsy in their area.
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in England, affecting 500,000 people at a cost of around £2 billion each year.
Previous research has shown that people with epilepsy are not getting a consistently good level of care across England. Many can’t access epilepsy specialist nurses, wait too long to see specialists and aren’t being referred to explore other treatments for their epilepsy.
Epilepsy Action is concerned that without effective assessments of need and robust plans, services for people with epilepsy will not improve and that inequalities in the availability and the quality of care will continue to exist.
Simon Wigglesworth, deputy chief executive of Epilepsy Action, said: “The findings of this report are concerning. They show that the organisations tasked with understanding the local needs of people with epilepsy do not consider it to be a priority and, in many places, don’t even know how many people with epilepsy live in their area.
“Not enough is being done to understand and meet the healthcare needs of people with epilepsy on a local level – this must change. If the organisations who plan the services won’t consider the needs of people with epilepsy, who will?”
The online maps highlight local information provided by the CCGs and health and wellbeing boards that were surveyed. The maps can be viewed on the Epilepsy Action website.
