Health Minister announces investment in paediatric neurology services

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today announced that he is investing an additional £220,000 annually in paediatric neurology services.

Also, steps will now be taken to further develop diagnostic services including the introduction of a 3 Tesla MRI scanner which will be valuable in helping clinicians diagnose complex problems in both children and adults.

The investment will primarily improve services for children with the complex condition, intractable epilepsy.

The extra funding will mean:

• An enhancement in the number of dieticians able to support patients on the ketogenic diet;
• The appointment of a paediatric neurology nurse;
• The provision of additional MRI sessions;
• Closer links with Great Ormond Street Hospital to provide additional support and expert advice; and
• The development of satellite services for children and their families in the west of the province.

Children with intractable epilepsy will also benefit from a community funding package that the Minister will be announcing shortly for children with complex physical healthcare needs.

Making the announcement, Minister McGimpsey said: “I want to ensure that our health service can provide high quality services for children suffering from epilepsy. The investment I am announcing today will help support our highly skilled doctors and nurses in improving access to services in this specialised area.

“The provision of the ketogenic diet is recognised as an important element of treatment for some children whose epilepsy has not responded to medication. The diet requires the support and supervision of a dietician with additional specific training in its administration. This investment will now mean that we will have more dieticians trained to support children on the diet.”

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, which is internationally recognised for its work on the ketogenic diet, is leading experts in the management of intractable epilepsy and provides valuable support to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

The Minister continued: “We already have a very strong link with Great Ormond Street Hospital where consultants in both London and Belfast can assess patients together, benefiting from each others expertise and experience. Children from Northern Ireland can also be referred to London for treatment. This investment will further strengthen our links with GOSH for the benefit of all intractable epilepsy patients and their families.”

Commenting on the impact of this investment on other neurology services, the Minister said: “The additional MRI sessions will also improve access to this technology for children suffering from a range of neurological conditions, including intractable epilepsy.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Intractable epilepsy is a type of epilepsy that is not adequately controlled by medication.
2. The specific medical care for an ill child will depend on their condition, its severity, and the possible treatment options. Inevitably, because of the relatively small size of Northern Ireland, there will be occasions when patients require highly specialised care not normally available locally.
3. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0575. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.