Media Release
Date: 11 February 2022
RUH takes key role in national epilepsy treatment study
The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust is playing a central role in a new study evaluating the impact on quality of life of epilepsy surgery compared to treatment with or without medication.
One key outcome of the study will be to identify patients who may benefit from surgery to help reduce the severity of their condition.
Epilepsy surgery can be offered to those patients whose condition cannot be managed through anti-epileptic drugs. For others, medication can be effective in controlling the illness.
The study - ‘Pharmaco-resistant Epilepsy treatment Options and Quality of Life’ - is aimed at patients who have had multiple emergency department admissions.
The new study takes place as people mark International Epilepsy Day on Monday 14 February, a day which aims to aims to raise awareness about epilepsy around the world.
Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions in the world. It affects around 600,000 people in the UK. This means that almost 1 in 100 people in the UK have epilepsy. Around 87 people are diagnosed with epilepsy in the UK every day.
Sarah Stratton, Lead Research Practitioner, Planned Care, said: “This study will allow us to engage patients who could benefit from research and is an important first step to ensuring that we are offering the best care to our patients and community.
“It’s a real honour for the RUH to be involved in this study, which marks the start of a new neurology research portfolio, in a collaboration with epilepsy teams at hospitals in Cornwall and London.
“The study is open now and the research team is starting to get in touch with patients to see if they can help with the research. We are particularly keen to sign up patients who have not been involved with research before.”
The RUH is a research active trust with Research and Development (R&D) playing a vital part in the hospital's work.
Research is essential in providing new knowledge and learning about advice and treatments that will improve a patient's care and quality of life.
Clinicians across many different departments and specialties of the RUH are involved in a wide-range of research projects and evidence-based working.
The hospital also carries out research in partnership with local universities in Bath and Bristol, as well as many other academic institutions, NHS Trusts and charities.
Patients who would like to be considered for clinical research are asked to speak to their nurse or clinician about the latest research studies they may be able to join.
ENDS