NANTWICH woman Maggie Izzard is campaigning to improve epilepsy services in the area.

She will be meeting local MP Edward Timpson in London on Wednesday as part of National Epilepsy Week.

Maggie will meet the Tory MP at Parliament as part of a national lobby to highlight the problems with epilepsy services across the UK.

Epilepsy Action produced the Epilepsy in England: Time For Change report earlier this year.

The report highlighted how, in many areas, epilepsy services are still failing to meet national guidelines.

The report found that half of acute trusts do not employ an epilepsy specialist consultant, 90% of PCTs and acute trusts do not meet guideline waiting times and more than 60% do not have a specialist epilepsy nurse.

Maggie is one on some 456,000 people who suffer with the condition across the UK.

She said: “I want to help raise awareness of epilepsy; not just medical issues but the social and employment issues.

“I want people to be properly educated and not discriminate against people with epilepsy just because they don’t understand it.

“I also think GPs should be better trained in epilepsy.

“Adequate epilepsy services should be provided so that they are in line with NICE guidelines and people can access them in their local area.”

Maggie has to travel nearly 60 miles on public transport from Nantwich to the Walton Centre in Liverpool to see a specialist team.

Philip Lee, chief executive at Epilepsy Action, added: “It's appalling the treatment of epilepsy can vary so much because of a postcode lottery.

“People with epilepsy deserve the best possible care regardless of where they live.

“The overall support and recognition for people with epilepsy needs to be greatly improved.”