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Epilepsy services 'among worst in Europe'  Epilepsy services in Ireland are among the worst in Europe and another health scandal is waiting to happen if the situation is not improved, experts have warned.
The national and international experts are attending a major seminar on epilepsy in Dublin today, which has been organised by Brainwave, the Irish Epilepsy Association, as part of Brain Awareness Week.
According to Hanneke DeBoer, former president of the International Bureau for Epilepsy, Ireland has just 20 adult and five paediatric neurologists, which is far below the recommended number for a population of 4.2 million. Among these neurologists, just seven are trained epileptologists.
“Ireland is a high income country, but there is currently no specialist centre and there is a clear lack of neurologists, neurospecialists and community epilepsy nurses”, Ms DeBoer said.
In fact, despite previous reports on neurology recommending a ratio of one consultant neurologist per 100,000 people, Ireland currently has just one for every 210,000 people, one of the worst ratios in Europe.
Dr Norman Delanty, a consultant neurologist and epileptologist at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, also expressed serious concerns about the state of epilepsy services here.
“There is currently a major dearth of epilepsy care resources in Ireland and another scandal is waiting to happen if the situation is not improved. Waiting times of up to two years to see a neurologist are not uncommon for both public and private patients, while waiting lists for MRI scans run at nine months and neuropsychology services at one year”, Dr Delanty explained.
He said that this situation is reflective of the fact that there is a ‘huge shortage’ of neurologists here and that changes in demographics are not being planned for.
“We need a significant proactive plan to improve the situation with support from specialists, the HSE, the Government, patients and the voluntary sector”, Dr Delanty added.
He is calling for the establishment of a national centre for epilepsy, which would provide multidisciplinary care for individuals on a short-term residential basis, as well as outpatient and research facilities.
“A national centre serving public and private patients is urgently needed to correct the deficits that exist. As well as offering respite care, such a centre would provide rapid access to those with new or suspected epilepsy in a holistic, multidisciplinary environment”, Dr Delanty said.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that is diagnosed when a person has recurrent seizures caused by excess electrical activity in the brain. An estimated 35,000 people in Ireland are affected, making it the most common serious neurological condition here.
For many with epilepsy, medication ensures that seizures are controlled. However according to Brainwave, an estimated two out of five people who currently experience seizures could be seizure free, but are not.
“This is largely due to deficits in care. There are also 60-80 epilepsy-related deaths in Ireland each year, many of which could be prevented”, explained Mike Glynn, CEO of Brainwave.
He pointed out that a diagnosis of epilepsy usually has significant consequences for an individual and their family in terms of employment, social issues and lifestyle adjustments, such as no longer being able to drive.
He also highlighted the fact that people with epilepsy are often viewed by others with suspicion and misunderstanding, leaving them stigmatised and disadvantaged in terms of education and employment.
Epilepsy can have a severe psychological or emotional impact, with some people afraid to leave their homes unaccompanied. People can be afraid of what others might think of them if they are seen having a seizure.
“Stigma and exclusion are common features of epilepsy all over the world and these factors continue to be a major contributor to the burden associate with the condition. Reducing this stigma is the key to reducing the burden of epilepsy and improving people’s quality of life. Effective health policy initiatives to reduce stigma need to be developed and implemented”, Ms DeBoer added.
For more information on epilepsy, see our Epilepsy Clinic in association with Brainwave at http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/epilepsy/index.html or see Brainwave’s website at http://www.epilepsy.ie[Posted: Thu 13/03/2008]
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