A Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Program For Manitoba

We are asking for support to make known the need for a comprehensive epilepsy care program for Manitoba and the need to make epilepsy care a priority in Manitoba.

In 2012, epilepsy care was devastated when Dr. Yahya Agha-Khani, one of only two adult epileptologists left the province for Calgary. People with epilepsy could no longer access the care they required. Epilepsy surgery virtually ground to a halt. It took two years to recruit a replacement. Even with this new epileptologist, surgery could not resume because equipment has not been properly maintained and replaced.

The province needs to start supporting epilepsy care by establishing a comprehensive epilepsy program and replacing failed equipment, which would mean that neither the province nor the patients and their families would incur the costs of going out of province for epilepsy care, when the expertise already exists here at home. As an Association, we feel helpless and devastated by the loss of the only paediatric epileptologist , Dr. Appendino, who is leaving for Calgary and a replacement has not been found.

Manitoba needs to recruit and retain epileptologists.

The Association is urging the province to develop a comprehensive epilepsy care program. The current Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) consists of just 2 beds at the Health Sciences Centre, which are on loan from the orthopaedics ward. There are 0 pediatric EMU beds.

Anchored by a properly designed state of the art Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, expanded to 4 beds and additional paediatric beds, a comprehensive provincial epilepsy program would formally tie together the many different parts which are critical for proper epilepsy care. Fixing and replacing the broken equipment at HSC to keep the existing EMU running is an immediate priority. New epilepsy heath team members, including additional neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, technologists, nurses, an epilepsy pharmacist, an epilepsy social worker and another epileptologist would bring together a comprehensive epilepsy care team.

What can you do?

Sign our petition, let the Minister of Health know that epilepsy care in Manitoba is important to you.

Send a letter to your local MLA making them aware that this is an issue you feel strongly about.

Send the Epilepsy and Seizure Association of Manitoba your personal story, your experiences with epilepsy care in Manitoba. We will share these letters with the Minister of Health, the Health Critic, and other government officials.

***By Sending your letters sharing your experiences to Epilepsy and Seizure Association of Manitoba, you are giving ESAM your permission to share them**********