§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the(a) number and (b) proportion of misdiagnoses of epilepsy in England over the last three years. [125010]
§ Dr. LadymanWe have not made an estimate of the number or proportion of people misdiagnosed with epilepsy in England over the last three years. However, recent reports from the Clinical Standards Advisory Group—"Services for Patients with Epilepsy" (2000) and the Chief Medical Officer—"On the State of the Public Health" (2001) showed that around 20 per cent. of people receiving inappropriate and unnecessary treatment. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is developing a clinical guideline for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy, which is due in June 2004 and which will help address any shortfalls in current practice.