Epilepsy campaigner welcomes app’s win
International award
An epilepsy app backed by a local campaigner has won an international prize.
The world’s first epilepsy selfmonitoring app Epsmon won the challenge for innovation by the Epilepsy Foundation of America SUDEP Institute.
The challenge was for a method to reduce the risk of seizures with the purpose of preventing sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).
Chris Jeans, from Mid Calder, has been working with SUDEP Action Scotland since the death of her son Stephen McClelland.
Stephen was only 38 when he died suddenly from epilepsy in 2010.
SUDEP Action is the only UK epilepsy charity dedicated to the specialised support and involvement of those bereaved by epilepsy and aims to reduce the number of potentially avoidable epilepsy deaths each year.
Chris was delighted that the app developed by partners based at SUDEP Action, Plymouth University, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust, won the international prize.
She said: “This recognition and prestigious award is wonderful news for the Epsmon and indeed the whole team.
“Epilepsy is about management and this app is designed to help people with epilepsy to manage their risks and ensure they keep regular reviews with their medical team. Patient safety is paramount.”
Dr John Paul Leach from the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, said: “Management of epilepsy is all about empowerment of patients and their families.
“Knowledge of risk is an important piece of information that can help direct and inform patients’ behaviours and attitudes.”