The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance to the NHS in England and Wales on the diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults and children in the UK. They set standards for the diagnosis of epilepsy, including initial and ongoing treatment, provision of appropriate information, management of epilepsy that is difficult to control, access to emergency care, and women's health issues.

Several members of the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC), of which Epilepsy Research UK is also a member, were involved in the consultation process. The guidance is intended for health care professionals, patients and their carers, to help them make decisions about treatment and health care.

More information can be found at the NICE website. Direct links to the guidelines (in various formats) are available here:

NICE guidelines for the diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults and children in primary and secondary care

For the NICE guidelines for the use of the newer anti-epileptic drugs in adults and children, click here.

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