21 January 2014

Waveney MP Peter Aldous supports SUDEP Action’s Epilepsy Deaths Register aimed at preventing epilepsy deaths. 

The Epilepsy Deaths Register is the first register of epilepsy deaths in the UK. The campaign is aimed at improving services for people with epilepsy and preventing deaths. SUDEP Action launched the campaign on 4 June 2013 at a Parliamentary reception attended by fifteen MPs. 

Commenting on the importance of the Epilepsy Deaths Register Peter Aldous said:    

“I am hugely supportive of the work that SUDEP Action are doing on The Epilepsy Deaths Register.  Most people are unaware that epilepsy is one of the top ten causes of death in young people. This register will go a long way towards getting vital information which can provide invaluable help for epilepsy sufferers and their families.”

SUDEP Action Chief Executive Jane Hanna and Nathan Sparkes, Policy and Participation Officer, met MP Peter Aldous at Westminster on 19 November 2013. 

Commenting on the meeting, Jane Hanna said:

“It is great to have Peter’s support for The Epilepsy Deaths Register and the work of SUDEP Action.  Peter’s support for the register is especially welcome as we look to address the significant research deficit for a condition which has been responsible for more deaths in the UK than HIV and cot death combined in the last 5 years.  I urge anyone with information about a death to contact the register via www.sudep.org.”

Mr Aldous has written to his local Clinical Commissioning Group to ask them to help publicise The Epilepsy Deaths Register and to the local Coroner to ask them to refer bereaved families to the register.