Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve awareness and consistency of communication about Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) among neurologists and other healthcare professionals across NHS Scotland.
The Health and Social Care Standards, published in 2017, set out the expectation that care should be provided by health and social care professionals based on the most relevant evidence, guidance and best practice, as is appropriate to their profession and patient group
There are national clinical guidelines on epilepsy which advise and support clinicians in Scotland; implementation of these is the responsibility of each individual NHS Board.
The SIGN clinical guidance on managing epilepsy in adults states that: “Counselling about the risks of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy should be considered for patients with epilepsy at an appropriate time for the patient and by an appropriate healthcare professional.”
As no single approach will suit all individuals, discussions around SUDEP are informed by clinical judgement in the context of individual circumstances, and in agreement with the person with epilepsy and where appropriate their carers.