January 11, 2019

Poor Mental Health Support for Children in Epilepsy Clinics, National Audit in England and Wales Shows

Almost 9 in 10 Health Boards and Trusts in England and Wales do not enable mental health provision within epilepsy clinics. This is despite research showing that children with epilepsy are four times more likely to experience a mental health problem than their peers.

This is a finding in the new Epilepsy12 National Audit report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The report also found that nearly a quarter of Health Boards and Trusts are failing to provide routine and comprehensive care planning for children with epilepsy.

The report also highlighted areas of improvement. The number of epilepsy specialist nurses (ESNs) across England and Wales has increased significantly since 2014, when the last audit was published. ESNs are a key part of the epilepsy team, providing essential support to children and young people and their families.

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