Beaumont epilepsy unit opens but Cork sister site lies idle

A groundbreaking epilepsy monitoring unit that could save hundreds of lives over the coming years has opened in Beaumont Hospital — but a sister site for Cork is still lying idle.

Health Minister James Reilly yesterday opened the €700,000 state-of-the-art unit in Dublin, promising that it will make a life-changing difference to those affected by the brain condition.

The facility works by monitoring the exact point in the brain where epileptic fits occur, depending on the patient involved, which leads to far more effective, individually tailored treatments.