80 lives a year lost over lack of epilepsy resources

UP TO 80 deaths from epilepsy each year could be prevented if the Government had kept promises to provide better services for the 35,000 Irish people living with the condition.

The Irish Epilepsy Association, Brainwave, said between 60 and 80 people die as a result of epilepsy each year. About half of deaths are caused from an injury such as burning or drowning during their seizure while the other half die as a direct result of their seizure.

The association said the deaths could be prevented if patients were given adequate treatment that would allow them to control their seizures. But waiting lists to see a neurologist, or brain specialist, are more than two years long.