The Joint Epilepsy Council of the U.K. and Ireland
Registered Charity No. 1104313
PO Box 186, Leeds LS20 8WY
E: sharon.jec@btconnect.com
Contact: Sharon Wood
General Secretary
Tel:01943 871852

Working to meet the needs of people with epilepsy and their families

logo
Joint Epilepsy Council
More about JEC         

 

Slideshow image


About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological condition which presents in as many as 50 different types. It is diagnosed when someone has recurrent seizures (also known to many people as fits, grand mal, petit mal, absences). It is caused by excess electrical activity in the brain.

Over 440,000 people have epilepsy in the UK. It is the most serious neurological condition is a major long-term disability with similar numbers of people affected as insulin dependent diabetes.

Many of the world’s leading epilepsy specialists work in the UK, but:

  • very few GPS understand epilepsy sufficiently.
  • there are too few consultant neurologists specialising in epilepsy in both adult and paediatric care.
  • for far too many people it takes far too long to have an EEG or MRI examination. EEG and MRI are scanning techniques used to diagnose and treat epilepsy accurately.
  • two out of five people experiencing seizures could be seizure fee, but are not.
  • 50% of children with epilepsy under perform at school.

The JEC believes a range of initiatives would bridge this gap. See our Epilepsy Manifesto – “Epilepsy – The case for …… Making the choice agenda relevant to people with epilepsy”.

 

Special Notices   

JEC News
April 10 edition now available online - click here

JEC Launches Epilepsy Call For Action Leaflet
The JEC has launched its call for action leaflet for epilepsy in time for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. We believe better management of care and resources is needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. This could prevent 400 deaths per year, bring thousands more people into employment and boost the education of young people with the condition. It could also save Government over £22million per year! To find out more click here.

National Epilepsy Week (NEW) 2010
Due to the timing of the General Election at Westminster, National Epilepsy Week 2010 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will take place week commencing Sunday 13th June. The topic is Epilepsy and the Under-25s.

Member organisation Brainwave, in Ireland, will be retaining the usual May dates for NEW 2010 and activities being organised by them in May, and other events being staged in June can be found by clicking here.

"Taking the Tablets" collaboration
JEC members Epilepsy Bereaved, the National Society for Epilepsy, Epilepsy Scotland, Epilepsy Action and the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy have joined forces under the JEC umbrella to develop an information DVD on the importance of taking anti-epileptic medication.

The ‘Taking the Tablets’ DVD and accompanying booklet offers a programme for people with epilepsy about anti-epileptic drug treatment with views and experiences of people with the condition and two medical professionals.

Speaking on the DVD, Dr Henry Smithson Senior Lecturer in General Practice, Sheffield; “The majority of people who have epileptic seizures are given anti-epileptic drugs to try and reduce or even stop the seizures…Between 60 and 70% of people’s seizures can be stopped by anti-epileptic drugs” Click here to watch the dvd

 

 


© Copyright The Joint Epilepsy Council, 2010. All Rights Reserved.