Epilepsy: The Facts
- Epilepsy is the most common, serious neurological condition affecting Scotland today
- Epilepsy can happen to anyone at any time and can be utterly devastating
- 39,000 people in Scotland have epilepsy
- More Scots died from epilepsy in 2007 than of Aids, Hepatitis, Meningitis, TB and cot death – combined. It’s estimated that 42% of these deaths were preventable
- 9,000 people in Scotland have a misdiagnosis of epilepsy. They’re prescribed ineffective and potentially harmful drugs while their true condition is untreated. This costs the taxpayer £13.7m each year – wasting money and wasting lives
- People with epilepsy are five times more likely to commit suicide than the general population due to isolation, despair and stigma
- 7,800 people have learning disabilities together with epilepsy. But many do not receive any support for their epilepsy and continue to endure harmful seizures that compound their disability
- Quarriers has been supporting people with epilepsy since 1906. Today we are the leading charity providing epilepsy services in Scotland, delivering clinical diagnosis and treatment, supported living, respite and a range of community based initiatives
- The Scottish Epilepsy Centre is the only medium-term assessment centre for patients with complex epilepsy in Scotland today.You’re nearly 3 times more likely to be unemployed if you have epilepsy
