Why the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation matters for women with epilepsy

The EpiSafe team welcomes the publication of the Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England.

Why this matters for women with epilepsy

Although the report does not focus specifically on epilepsy in pregnancy, its findings are highly relevant to women with epilepsy, their babies and their families. The report highlights the importance of listening to women and families, improving joined-up care, and ensuring maternity and neonatal services are shaped by strong evidence.

How EpiSafe contributes to solutions

EpiSafe Research is part of that solution. By working with women, families, clinicians and researchers, we aim to support care that is safer, better connected and shaped by real experience.

EpiSafe is developing and evaluating a personalised care bundle to help pregnant women with epilepsy access timely specialist care, reduce seizure risks and support safer use of anti-seizure medicines. The programme also includes EpiFollow, which looks at the longer-term development of children exposed to anti-seizure medicines before birth.

The report also highlights the need for research and implementation to be evidence-based, rather than driven by recommendations that are not properly prioritised, funded or evaluated. For EpiSafe, this means generating evidence that can help improve decisions about epilepsy, anti-seizure medicines, seizure risks, pregnancy care and children’s outcomes.

Women with epilepsy should not sit at the margins of maternity improvement. Their voices, their care and their children’s outcomes need to be part of the national conversation on safer maternity and neonatal services.