Thank you for contacting me about support for people with epilepsy.
It is estimated that there are 533,000 people affected by epilepsy across England and Wales (including around 112,000 children and young people), and it is vital that our NHS supports them to live healthy, independent lives.
Early diagnosis, treatment and seizure control are key to achieving high-quality outcomes for patients with epilepsy, and it is important that local health systems strive to achieve this.
Guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) sets out best practice for treating patients with epilepsy.
NICE recommends that people having a first seizure should be screened and referred to a specialist, helping to ensure earlier diagnosis of epilepsy. NICE has now updated this guidance to ensure that it remains consistent with new evidence about epilepsy.
I understand the concerns and anguish of patients who suffer with epilepsy and are seeking treatments to ease their symptoms, and their families. The decision whether to prescribe an individual with medicinal cannabis is not a political or financial decision, but a decision by a medical expert, who will have considered whether it is the most effective treatment based on an individual’s particular condition.
To inform clinical decision-making, more robust research will be required on higher numbers of patients to develop evidence on the impact of medical cannabis on outcomes.
I understand that the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has issued two calls for proposals and a highlight notice on medicinal cannabis. Manufacturers are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of these products and to seek regulatory approval. The Government also offers scientific and research advice through the Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.
At the present time, the licensed cannabis-based medicine Epidyolex is available on the NHS for two forms of epilepsy.
I am encouraged that with proper treatment, most people with epilepsy can be helped to have fewer seizures, and in some cases no seizures at all.
Thank you again for contacting me.