Cork Epilepsy Unit to open in early 2014 – Murphy

Fine Gael Cork North Central Deputy, Dara Murphy, has today (Friday) said the opening of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in Cork University Hospital (CUH) will help to speedily diagnose and treat those living with the condition in Cork and the surrounding region.

“I was delighted to learn this week that plans for the long-awaited Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at CUH are moving along nicely, with an opening date for the Unit expected in March next year.

“The recruitment of appropriately skilled staff to man the Unit has been on-going and I am informed that the process has now been completed and that contracts have been offered to prospective employees.

“This Regional Epilepsy Monitoring Unit is only the second of its kind in the State and the decision to commission it and have it based at CHU ensures that the needs of those living with epilepsy around the Cork region will be met.

“The Unit will provide accessible and comprehensive care for patients in the HSE-South area and will come as a reassuring welcome, especially to the families of those who are living with unstable or chronic epilepsy.

“Having a monitoring Unit on site at CUH means that travelling times for epilepsy sufferers in the region will be greatly reduced. It will also allow waiting times for video-EEG monitoring and the early identification of symptoms associated with the condition to be more readily detected.

“Both in and out-patient facilities will be available which should make classifying the type of epilepsy patients have and administering the appropriate treatment for people in the Cork region a speedier and less stressful process.”

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