First evidence of the clinical impact of a general practitioner with a special interest in epilepsy

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to review the clinical outcomes of people with epilepsy (PWE) attending a primary care-based specialist epilepsy service. MethodThe case notes of 355 people attending the service and subsequent follow-up from 2005 to 2013 were reviewed. ResultsThere had been 37 deaths (all nonattributable to epilepsy), and 38 people had left the area, leaving 280 people who completed the audit. Positive outcomes could be attributed in 94% still attending the service at the end of follow-up. Seventy-five percent of people on treatment, referred with poor seizure control, achieved seizure remission with antiepilepsy drug (AED) changes initiated by the service. ConclusionThis study suggests that the majority of people who attended the service had a positive outcome and provides the first evidence for the clinical effectiveness of a general practitioner (GP) with special interest in epilepsy (GPwSIe) and provides support for the recommendations in earlier government reports to promote the use of such a service. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Government should consider investment in this intermediate tier of care as a means to both improving the quality of care and potentially reducing costs.