I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 376 together.
The National Epilepsy Programme, under the auspices of the National Clinical Care Programmes provides for the commissioning of a Regional Epilepsy Monitoring Unit to be based in Cork University Hospital. The Unit aims to provide accessible, comprehensive care for patients in the HSE-South area with Epilepsy, particularly those with acutely unstable Epilepsy and disabling chronic Epilepsy. It further aims to:
- reduce wait times for video-EEG monitoring and the early identification of Epilepsy-related comorbidities, particularly mental illness and cognitive impairment;
- provide rapid access (<1 month) to out-patient clinics for patients referred by ED, AMU, or GP;
- provide access to safe inpatient facility (EMU) for patients with acutely unstable Epilepsy admitted from ED or AMU or transferred from other hospitals in the region, and
- enable the early identification of patients with refractory Epilepsy that might benefit from Epilepsy surgery.
The unit will include the establishment of 24/7 video-EEG monitoring service with 3 main purposes:
- establish definitive diagnosis in patients with seizure-like episodes;
- characterise and classify type of Epilepsy in patients with poorly understood Epilepsy e.g. persons with intellectual disability; and
- pre-surgical assessment of patients with disabling refractory Epilepsy.
Critical to the commissioning and opening of the unit is the requirement to recruit appropriately skilled staff. The HSE has advised that the recruitment process has now been completed and contracts have been offered to the selected persons. It is anticipated that the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit will open on the 31 March 2014.
