Media
Press Releases
2007
Release date: Friday 27 July 2007
Epilepsy award is the BEST medicine
A health award which recognises the efforts of individuals and teams trying to develop better healthcare for the half a million people with epilepsy in the UK and Ireland is launched (this week).
The BEST (Best Epilepsy Standards Today) award, an initiative of the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) which represents 21 leading epilepsy organisations, aims to raise awareness of the condition and to encourage similar epilepsy service improvements within the NHS and Health Service Executive in Ireland.
Last month a report by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Epilepsy highlighted failures in the care and treatment of people with epilepsy and condemned continued government failure to meet the needs of people living with the condition. According to that report these failures have resulted in 400 avoidable deaths a year and £189 million in wasted funds.
Baroness Gould of Potternewton, both chair of the APPG and one of the judges of the BEST awards said: “The report ‘Wasted Money Wasted Lives’ highlighted inadequacies in the service for people with epilepsy. The BEST award is an excellent way of recognising best practice and the way things should be done for all people with epilepsy.”
Nominations for the award can be made by patients or their family members, voluntary groups and volunteers, primary practice and specialist nurses, health visitors, GPs and pharmacists. Entries can come from health students, administrators, community or hospital healthcare teams and consultants working in England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The award is open to any individual or team working in health or social care, excluding JEC member organisations unless working in partnership with another agency.
For full entry criteria and an entry form go to the JEC website www.jointepilepsycouncil.org.uk. Nominations need to be received by JEC by September 7 2007.
ends
Press enquiries: Amanda Cleaver, Senior Communications Officer National Society for Epilepsy 01494 601404; Michelle Baillie, Marketing Development Officer, The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy 01342832243; Allana Parker, PR and Government Relations Manager, Epilepsy Scotland 0141 419 1701; Paul Sharkey, Training and Communications Manager, Brainwave the Irish Epilepsy Association