HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 cc131-2W
Mr. Jim Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received and what response he has made on the issue of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. [43330]

Mr. Boateng

Since November 1997, 37 private office cases have been received on the subject of sudden unexpected death from epilepsy (SUDEP) and one Parliamentary Question has been asked in the same period. Virtually all the private office correspondence has been from families who have lost a relative through SUDEP.

The Department has awarded £45,000 in total for the years 1997–2000 to the organisation Epilepsy Bereaved? through a Section 64 grant, to help them raise awareness of SUDEP.

I shall be meeting representatives from the charity Epilepsy Bereaved? and the Joint Epilepsy Council on 2 June.