Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to shift epilepsy care from a reactive approach to a proactive preventative model, such as increased early identification of symptoms.

The Government is taking steps to support a more proactive and preventative approach to epilepsy care through earlier recognition and improved management. Guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) sets clear expectations for timely diagnosis, regular review and assessment of seizure control and associated risks, and referral to specialist services where needed.

NHS England supports this approach through national programmes such as Getting It Right First Time and NHS RightCare, which promote consistent use of guidelines, strengthen multidisciplinary care, and help improve early identification and ongoing management of epilepsy across the National Health Service.

The Government is also taking steps to ensure people with epilepsy and their families have access to clear information on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) risk and prevention. NICE guidance recommends that clinicians discuss SUDEP risk from diagnosis and revisit this regularly, including providing personalised advice on reducing risk. NHS England supports this through training programmes developed with SUDEP Action, which improve clinician awareness and communication of risk.