Epilepsy: New Treatments

Baroness Wheeler Excerpts

Monday 2nd February 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jolly]

The noble Lord is absolutely right.

[Baroness Wheeler (Lab)]

My Lords, on commissioning, CCGs have a strategic influence and make key commissioning decisions that impact on the lives of nearly half a million people with epilepsy in England. Yet, last year’s Epilepsy Action report showed that only 10% of them had produced written needs assessments for people with epilepsy and that 70% reported that they did not have any plans to do so, either for this or for people with other neurological conditions. What are the Government doing to remedy this appalling situation?

[Baroness Jolly]

If the noble Baroness is referring to the joint strategic needs assessment, that is produced by the clinical commissioning groups working in conjunction with local authorities. It is up to them to make decisions about what they consider to be important.