Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of GPs and nurses with specialist training in epilepsy.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that healthcare professionals are appropriately trained to identify and manage epilepsy.

General practitioners and nurses receive training in neurological conditions, including epilepsy, as part of their undergraduate education and continuing professional development (CPD). Individual healthcare professionals are responsible for maintaining their own CPD to ensure their knowledge and skills remain up to date, in line with professional standards set by their regulatory bodies.

Through its e-learning for healthcare platform, NHS England offers free, evidence-based epilepsy training packages designed for health and care professionals. These modules focus on raising awareness, improving primary care management, and supporting children, young people, and adults living with the condition. Professional bodies and charities, such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and epilepsy-focused organisations, also provide additional training and resources to support clinicians in improving their knowledge and skills in this area.

Guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also plays a key role in raising awareness and supporting education among health professionals by providing clear, evidence‑based recommendations on the diagnosis and management of epilepsy. It brings together the latest clinical evidence and expert consensus in a single, accessible resource, helping general practitioners, nurses, and other clinicians to recognise symptoms more quickly, understand best practice in treatment and referral, and deliver more consistent care.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services that meet local population needs, including ensuring that staff have the appropriate training and expertise. Through national programmes such as Getting It Right First Time, NHS England is also supporting systems to improve pathways, share best practice, and ensure that people with epilepsy can access timely, specialist care.

Together, these actions aim to strengthen the workforce, improve access to specialist expertise, and deliver better outcomes for people living with epilepsy.