Earlier today, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) announced the launch of its new Epilepsy Passport, which will help healthcare professionals to better understand the epilepsy status of young people.
The passport will contain current information on a child’s epilepsy in a document that is easy to carry around with them, meaning that in the event of an emergency healthcare professionals and anyone else who is caring for the child – including school staff – will be informed and able to assist more effectively.
It will also mean that parents of children with the condition will not have to keep repeating accounts of medical histories relating to their child, as it will all be updated and held in the passport.
Other information that will be included in the document relates to the type of seizures and epilepsy the child has, any medication being taken by them, the ‘rescue medication’ the child can take, and any allergies they might have or medicines that should be avoided.
The passport will also indicate any medical professionals that are involved with the child’s ongoing care programme.
Clinical lead for the RCPCH project, Dr Richard Appleton, said: “Poor communication has been one of the most important and longest-standing issues linked to poor epilepsy care and it may contribute to poor seizure control and hospital admissions.
“Our Epilepsy Passport is a simple idea which will help bridge the gap between patients and medical, as well as other professionals.
“With approximately 60,000 children suffering from Epilepsy in the UK today and with epilepsy related-deaths one of the top ten causes of death in the UK, this Passport also has the potential to be lifesaving.”
It is expected that the Epilepsy Passport, which has been funded by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP), will also eventually be used in nationwide adult epilepsy services.
For more information about the epilepsy passport, please click on the link below: http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/improving-child-health/quality-improvement-and-clinical-audit/epilepsy-passport/epilepsy-passport/.