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MP Paul Maynard calls for fair play for epilepsy
Health minister Paul Burstow MP has agreed to meet with voluntary organisations such as the National Society for Epilepsy to look at ways of addressing the failings of the NHS for people with epilepsy.
The pledge came during an adjournment debate introduced by Paul Maynard MP who wants a ‘fair deal’ for people with epilepsy.
> Watch the debate on parliament.tv (opens in new window)
Speaking of his own experience of epilepsy Mr Maynard described the condition as ‘a thief in the night’ which left him disoriented and fearful after a seizure. He said that better care and better treatment was more cost effective and criticised the NHS for not making the NICE guidelines mandatory.
His plea for improved services was echoed by Laura Sandys MP for South Thanet who also has epilepsy. She said that epilepsy affected people in many different ways and in varying degrees but common to all was the issue of stigma and called for ‘liberation’.
The Health Minister acknowledged the current failings of the NHS, which he said had ‘gaping holes’ and said the planned reforms would drive improvements from ‘the bottom up’.
Graham Faulkner, chief executive, National Society for Epilepsy said: “This feels like a very significant moment in time with two MPs declaring publicly that they have epilepsy. I was encouraged by the Minister’s response to the debate acknowledging that more needs to be done to improve epilepsy services. We shall be keeping a close watch on how his promises get turned into action.”
