Jun. 20 2024
Source Page: Topiramate (Topamax): introduction of new safety measures, including a Pregnancy Prevention ProgrammeFound: disability or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in almost 300 children of mothers with epilepsy
Jun. 19 2024
Source Page: National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions minutes: November 2023Found: could provide assistance in progressing this.SF introduced CH to give a brief overview of the Scottish Epilepsy
Mar. 10 2011
Source Page: The NHS atlas of variation in healthcare: reducing unwarranted variation to increase value and improve quality. 100 p.Found: , who will be more likely to engage with health services. 1 Joint Epilepsy Council (2005) Epilepsy
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure there is specific employment support for people with epilepsy.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
The Government delivers an extensive programme of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions, including epilepsy, to start, stay, and succeed in work. This programme was expanded upon by the Government's new Back to Work Plan, announced as part of the Autumn Statement. Measures include: Universal Support, the Work and Health Programme; Access to Work grants; the Disability Confident scheme; an online service called ‘Support with employee health and disability’; increased Work Coach support and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres; reforming Occupational Health provision; and further initiatives also work to join up employment and health systems, which includes expanding Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of utilising medicinal cannabis to treat children with intractable epilepsy.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The licensed cannabis-based medicine Epidyolex is prescribed and routinely funded by the National Health Service for the treatment of people aged two years old and over with Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. This follows approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Clinical guidelines from NICE state that there is insufficient evidence of safety and efficacy to support a population-wide practice recommendation for the use of unlicensed cannabis-based products, for the treatment of adults and children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy. NICE also made recommendations for further research to inform future commissioning decisions.
The Government encourages manufacturers to invest in research and clinical trials, and offers scientific and research advice from the MHRA and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Mentions:
1: Judith Cummins (Lab - Bradford South) One parent said:“our son has severe complex needs including epilepsy, which can cause him to stop breathing - Speech Link
Sep. 05 2024
Source Page: Valproate use in men: as a precaution, men and their partners should use effective contraceptionFound: Valproate medicines are used in treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including policies on epilepsy in the the Major Conditions Strategy.
Answered by Will Quince
The Major Conditions Strategy will cover cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, dementia, mental ill health and musculoskeletal conditions as these are the six groups of conditions that contribute the most to mortality and morbidity. We expect the approach to tackling these conditions as set out in the report, Major conditions Strategy: a case for change and our strategic framework may have a positive impact on patients with other conditions, including epilepsy.
Jun. 06 2024
Source Page: Class 2 Medicines Recall: Desitin Pharma UK Ltd, Lamotrigine Desitin 10mg/ml Oral Suspension, EL(24)A/20Found: Patients and carers should be reminded that suddenly stopping an epilepsy medicine may cause seizures