Newly Launched Epilepsy App shortlisted for two prestigious Health Service Journal Awards 2015

The world’s first, Epilepsy Self-Monitoring app EpSMon, has been shortlisted from over 1,600 entries in two categories of the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards. 

The awards are the largest celebration of excellence in UK healthcare, highlighting the most innovative and successful people and projects in the sector. 

The app, which supports adults with epilepsy, was developed by a team including clinicians, patients and health information experts at SUDEP Action, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Plymouth University and Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust. EpSMon was developed from the SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist, a clinical tool designed to help health professionals monitor and discuss their patients’ epilepsy risks and well-being. The Checklist project was funded through Kt’s Fund, a charity set up by family and friends of 20-year Katie Hallet, a children’s nursing student who died from SUDEP in January 2006.

EpSMon has been shortlisted in the categories of ‘patient safety’ and ‘improving efficiency with technology’. The app brings life-saving information to the fingertips of people with epilepsy who experience seizures, by allowing them to assess their risk every three months.

The use of the app has been likened to a person with hypertension monitoring their condition with a domestic blood pressure device. EpSMon allows someone with epilepsy to check they have a planned review of their condition in the future, or schedule an earlier check-up if they are reporting increased risk factors.

Jane Hanna OBE from SUDEP Action commented:  “EpSMon being shortlisted for this national award is not only exciting but is vital in helping us get the message out to people with epilepsy that they can use technology to analyse their health, self-monitor, and engage with doctors when they need to. A huge thank you to Liz and Bob at Kt’s Fund – without their support EpsMon would not have been possible”.  

Dr Rohit Shankar, Consultant in Adult Neuropsychiatry at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is one of the clinicians involved in the development of the app. He said;

“I am delighted to see EpSMon shortlisted in the Health Service Journal Awards just two months after its launch. The idea of the app was originally explored to help people with a learning difficulties and epilepsy to manage the risks, but with our partners, we have been able to make it available to help everyone with the condition. I hope the judges will see the potential of the app to save hundreds of lives across the UK each year.”

Approximately 1,200 lives are claimed by epilepsy each year in the UK, and research indicates that 42% of these deaths could be preventable. 

EpSMon helps people to reduce their risk by asking questions which formed part of an axed GP monitoring service, including their last appointment about their epilepsy, information about their seizures and wellbeing. The app analyses the information provided and creates advice which ranges from ‘all clear, no further action required’ to ‘make an appointment with your doctor now’. The app’s analysis can be shown to a GP to help them decide the best treatment regime for their patient and encourages person-centred communication of the key risk issues. 

Earlier this month it was announced that the app had been included as part of an epilepsy toolkit to be used across the UK by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in the NHS.

The winners of the awards will be announced on 18 November in London. 

For more information about EpSMon, visit www.epsmon.com