News/events

EDGE Course on Monday 6th of March 23

EDGE COURSE Monday 6 March 1300-1700 via zoom!

Dr Richard Brown and Dr Gautam Ambegaonkar have great pleasure in offering an educational delight FREE of cost for those who might find themselves running Early Diagnosis of Genetic Epilepsy, cunningly named the EDGE course 
There are 2 courses coming up soon – with 2 more courses before the end of the year!

The course was developed by Dr Alasdair Parker (BPNA president) and Dr Brown with support from Biomarin to address the problem clinicians face in an era where old-school investigation of epilepsies in young children [particularly the 2-5 year olds] just doesn’t cut the mustard anymore. 

The course is crucial as despite good quality multi-disciplinary care of epilepsy:-
Increasing numbers of proven and research therapies for specific disorders means that early diagnosis is even more crucial
Delayed diagnosis of rare disease has therefore become the paediatrician’s spectre
There is a need to shorten the ‘diagnostic odyssey’
There is a need to make investigation less invasive
Harness the power of modern genetic investigations and in particular bring them into play much earlier
A straightforward, efficient approach to investigating early onset epilepsies which incorporates new genetic technology
Something that is pragmatic and ‘works’ locally
Clear lines of communication and referral into tertiary paediatric neurology, and networked peer review, education and governance
Support secondary level paediatric epilepsy care in order to function to at a safe and high level – secondary care epilepsy services need to be on a trajectory towards delivering genetic investigation ie not only by referral to tertiary services.

We have delivered the course 16 times since April 2021 using audio-visual wonderment and some modern interactive tech – to regional epilepsy network colleagues from SWIPE [south west], EPEN [Eastern], S Wales, London, North West, BPNA Distance Learning peer support group, Birmingham, Southampton and Oxford.

The next course will be held on Monday 6 March 1300-1700 via zoom

Please contact richard.brown19@nhs.net if you would like to attend any of these courses