The Ipswich Epilepsy Support Group now has a email contact address Ipswichepilesy@gmail.com we no longer run a telephone helpline number.

The group had a fund raising event at Orford Methodist Church Tea Room there was a tombolo, tea,coffee and cake event. The event raised £400 so we would like to thank everyone who supported the event special thanks go to pam and Steven.

The group are having a fund raising event at Orford Methodist Church Tea Room between 11am till 4pm.There will be a tombolo, tea,coffee and cake all support is greatfully appreciated.

The Epilepsy support group would like to thank everyone that donated, gave there time to make cakes and to everyone who supported us in anyway at our fundraising event at the Methodist Church Tea Room. The final total raised is £501. Once again thank you to everyone.

The Epilepsy support group would like to thank everyone that donated, gave there time to make cakes and to everyone who supported us in anyway at our fundraising event at the Methodist Church Tea Room. At the last count we have raised £485. Once again thank you to everyone.

The group are having a fund raising event at Orford Methodist Church Tea Room between 10.30 and 4pm.There will be a tombolo, tea,coffee and cake all support is greatfully appreciated.

Speaking on the 6th March the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a £45 Million investment into research for Cancer, Dementia and Epilepsy.
The increased investment in Life Sciences was part of the Governments annual 2024 Spring Budget.
Jeremy Hunt said the money would help fund research into new medicines for these condition
Source Epilepsy Action.

The Ipswich Epilepsy Support Group is a registered charity and has no government funding any money the group secures is through fund raising so if you would like to donate any money to the group so we can continue to help people in the Suffolk area please donate via our Paypal account which is situated on our website.

People with Epilepsy could be entitled to some Benefits subject to your status and how your seizures effect you on a day day basis. Some Benefits available to people suffering with Epilepsy are Disability Living Allowance age limited is up to 16 years of age, Personal Independence Payment age limit is from the age of over 16 and up to 65 though certain rules may apply for claimants to continue claiming this benefit over the age of 65, Employment Support Allowance Support Group income based and contribution based, Employment Support Allowance Work Related Activity Group, Carers Allowance and certain other Universal Credit disability benefits linked to Universal Credit.

Please note the above Benefits may be eligible to other people with other medical conditions or disabilities.

There are a lot of Benefits available not linked to disabilities see below for a quick guide

Universal Credit, Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Council Tax Reduction, Budgeting Loans and advances, Funeral Payments Cold Weather Payment. There are other benefits available to many to mention so for a full break down of these and all the other benefits available please contact your local Citizens Advice Burea .See are links tab for some organisations.
Source Ipswich Epilepsy Support Group.

NHS launches laser beam brain surgery to treat epilepsy
22 October 2022
Long term conditionsLong Term Plan
A world-leading, fibre optic laser therapy for people suffering with epilepsy who have not responded well to other forms of treatment will be rolled out on the NHS.

Offering hope to thousands of current and future NHS patients, the cutting-edge laser treatment, targets the part of the brain that is causing the seizures without the need for invasive surgery.

A nationwide first, the treatment will benefit up to 150 NHS patients every year with the first surgeries set to take place in early 2023.

The laser requires just a 1.5mm-wide probe into the skull with the fibre optic laser at the tip of the probe reaching and destroying the epilepsy-causing brain tissue from the inside by heating it.

Carried out in an MRI scanner, the clinical team accurately navigate through the brain avoiding blood vessels and other critical structures, and can monitor the temperature of the surrounding areas to ensure healthy brain tissue does not overheat.

The small wound heals quickly meaning patients can go home the next day with minimal risk of infection or other side effects and can return to their usual work and activities within a week.

This is the latest example of the NHS delivering on the Long Term Plan commitment to ensure patients across the country have access to the latest and most effective treatments available.

NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “This pioneering laser beam treatment for epilepsy patients is life-changing and will offer hope to hundreds of people every year who have not had success in preventing seizures with traditional drugs.

“By replacing invasive neurosurgery with a cutting-edge laser therapy, allowing clinicians to better target the parts of the brain causing the epilepsy, we not only dramatically reduce risks to these patients, but drastically reduce their recovery time both in and out of hospital.

“The treatment is yet another example of how the NHS continues to deliver on its NHS Long Term Plan commitment to secure the latest medical innovations for patients while also using our commercial means to ensure value for money”.

Currently one in three people with epilepsy are not able to control their seizures with drugs alone and may require invasive neurosurgery to remove the epilepsy-causing part of the brain.

Around one in 100 people suffer with epilepsy and there are around 600,000 people living with the condition across the UK.

While as many as 150,000 people may experience seizures of some kind, only around 10,000 are candidates for conventional surgery. This may be because the source of the seizure is not able to be localised or the seizures are not frequent or intense enough – and just one in 10 of these people are likely to go ahead with neurosurgery.

Current conventional neurosurgery – an invasive operation on the skull and brain, removing the part that is causing the seizures – is only considered in patients who have had limited success with other treatments. It requires a week’s stay in hospital, followed by three months of recovery at home, which carries risks of infection and pain.

NHS medical director for specialised services Professor James Palmer said: “This innovative laser therapy is a game-changing breakthrough for patients who have not had success with traditional forms of treatment to control their seizures and will give those with epilepsy a real chance to live a normal life.

“The NHS is committed to rolling out cutting-edge treatments as quickly as possible – it is just one of seven new innovations that the NHS is making available to patients from today across the country following the latest review of treatments and technologies that should be prioritised for investment.”

LITT will initially be available at two specialist service providers in England with the first surgeries beginning in early 2023.

Individuals eligible for this treatment will have focal epilepsy that has not been controlled with two or more appropriate anti-seizure medications at maximum tolerated doses and have been investigated at an Epilepsy Surgery Centre.

They will also have their suitability assessed by a multi-disciplinary team and have a form of epilepsy that would make open neurosurgery highly risky.

This new treatment is one of seven recommendations made by the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG) that NHS England has accepted because the treatments are effective and represent an improvement in the service offered to patients.

Date published: 22 October, 2022
Date last updated: 21 October, 2022
Topics
Long term conditionsLong Term Plan
Terms and conditions
Privacy and cookies
Social media and comment moderation
Website feedback
Accessibility statement
Open Government Licence v3.0
Sign up to our email bulletins Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Find us on Instagram Visit us on LinkedIn Watch videos on YouTube All RSS
Source NHS website