SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
Over 2,000 clinicians regularly use our Checklist
This is our free evidence-based tool helping UK clinicians in their discussions with people about epilepsy risks. Created by us and the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the tool is supported by a development group of leading experts. Our Checklist is practical and specifically designed so it can be quickly completed in the clinic to promote meaningful conversations about risk with epilepsy patients. It provides a baseline for comparing changing risk factors over time.
Information is vital for people with epilepsy so they can make the best decisions to manage their condition well. Without this knowledge, they can’t take actions to live as safely as possible. The Checklist helps start difficult but important conversations, and keep them going.
Learn more about the Checklist in our videos linked below:
SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
Available to over 50% of GP surgeries across England
Health professionals from many backgrounds use the SUDEP & Seizure Safety Checklist as part of their care for people with epilepsy. There is no set way for the Checklist to be used – it supports clinicians in covering the key aspects of epilepsy/SUDEP risks with their patients without being prescriptive.
It helps ensure key questions – and answers – are not lost or forgotten in doctor / patient discussions, where time can be short and other distractions may sway focus.
SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
Downloading the Checklist
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This tool has been developed in partnership with Cornwall NHS Foundation Trust. Use of the Checklist has increased discussions from 10% to 80% within epilepsy services, significantly reducing risks for patients
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Since 2015 the Checklist has been supported by a UK-wide development team of GPs, experts and people living with epilepsy. It is regularly reviewed by SUDEP Action to ensure it considers the latest research and thinking on risk in epilepsy.
When downloading the Checklist, clinicians also gain access to a range of our free resources to support both themselves and their patients.
SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
Giving vital discussions a framework
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Epilepsy kills: stopping epilepsy-related death
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Are we as safe as we can be?
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SUDEP and pregnancy
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Risk factors for SUDEP
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How common is SUDEP, reconsidering the data
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Implications for clinical practice – SUDEP in adults with an intellectual disability
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Risk avoidance and supervision
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How can we translate population research into practice to avoidable death in epilepsy: a road map for the UK
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Clinical guidance for the generalist
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Clinical implications of SUDEP
The Checklist plays an important role in summarising many of the key themes related to Epilepsy/SUDEP risk management. We would recommend clinicians using the tool take a look at these core articles for an overview from the leading experts:
SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
Adult Checklist Development Group
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Dr Rohit Shankar Consultant in Adult Development Neuropsychiatry (Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine)
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Sammy Ashby, Chief Executive (SUDEP Action)
Checklist Partners
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Ben Donovan, Special Projects Coordinator (SUDEP Action)
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Kezie Chukwudebelu, Digital Project Manager (SUDEP Action)
Checklist Secretariat
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Dr Emma Carlyon (HM Coroner Cornwall)
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Simon Lees, advisor with lived experience of epilepsy
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Nathan Trevena, advisor with lived experience of epilepsy
Other Advisors
SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
Adult Checklist Development Group
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Dr Tamsyn Anderson, GP Partner & Director of Primary Care (Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)
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Juliet Bramsgrove, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (Norfolk Community Hospital)
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Dr David Cox, Consultant Neurologist (Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)
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Dr John Craig, Consultant Neurologist (Belfast Health & Social Care Trust)
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Caryn Jory, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)
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Professor Mike Kerr, Professor of Learning Disability Psychiatry (Abertawe br Morgannwg University Health Board)
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Dr John Paul Leach, Consultant Neurologist (Southern General Hospital)
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Dr Brendan McLean, Consultant Neurologist (Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust)
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Kim Morley, Epilepsy Specialist Midwife Practitioner (Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
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Dr Craig Newman, Clinical Psychologist (UXC Clinician Ltd)
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Mary Parrett, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust)
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Professor Josemir (Ley) Sander Professor of Neurology & Clinical Epilepsy (UCL Institute of Neurology)
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Professor Leone Ridsdale, Professor or Neurology and General Practice (King’s College London)
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Dr Arjune Sen, Consultant Neurologist (Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust)
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Professor Phil Smith Consultant Neurologist (University Hospital Wales)
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Professor Henry Smithson, Professor of General Practice (University College Cork & University of Sheffield)
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Phil Tittensor, Consultant Nurse for the Epilepsies (The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust)
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Professor Matthew Walker, Professor of Neurology & Clinical Epilepsy (UCL Institute or Neurology)
Medical Advisors
Please note Checklist registrations with next be processed in early November
Register to the SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
Registration allows the Checklist team to ensure the tool is being used by clinicians – who are directly caring for patients with epilepsy.
Registering for the Checklist means it will go directly to clinicians caring for patients with epilepsy.
This will give clinicians / professionals access to lots of free resources and quarterly news updates.
We will make sure you automatically get new Checklist versions as they’re released.
Please note registration is not automatic and the Checklist team (based at SUDEP Action) try to process these as often as possible. We are a small team, so thank you for your patience!
If you have previously registered or think you may not be receiving updates about the Checklist, please contact [email protected]
Also see
Why use the SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist?
Why use EpSMon? What users and experts say
A paediatric version of the SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
For one-to-one support after an epilepsy death contact our support team today
We provide the only support line for people bereaved by an epilepsy death and offer access to qualified counselling. Our dedicated support team has a special interest in, and understanding of, sudden and traumatic death.
