Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of decreased funding for Public Health England on its ability to decrease health inequalities for people with epilepsy.

No assessment has been made of the effect of funding for Public Health England (PHE) on its ability to reduce health inequalities for people with epilepsy.

PHE continues to provide data, intelligence and evidence-based advice to local authorities and the National Health Service on health inequalities and impacts for specific population groups.

In February 2018, PHE published data analysis for local authorities and the NHS highlighting the number and rate of deaths associated with epilepsy and other neurological conditions. The report identified inequalities in deaths associated with epilepsy and encourages local action. The report can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/deaths-associated-with-neurological-conditions

PHE also provides access to intelligence resources on neurological conditions including epilepsy via the ‘Neurology data and analysis: a guide for health professionals’ page on Gov.uk, available to view at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/neurology-data-and-analysis-a-guide-for-health-professionals