Opinion: Epilepsy and Care: My Journey with Milton Keynes Hospital and the UK Healthcare System
Epilepsy, defined by the NHS “is a condition that affects your brain and causes seizures (sometimes called fits).” It impacts approximately 633,000 people in the UK and can transform lives.
My diagnoses was not from the NHS or Milton Keynes University Hospital, unfortunately, it was from private healthcare which initially cost my family hundreds.
My intention is not to criticise the NHS or our hospital. They provided life-saving care for a family member on two occasions within three years, as well as assistance to many others during COVID-19 and in their daily operations. The healthcare system is underfunded and not taken seriously enough by those up high. However, this is about my experience, one that I hope others can relate to and find helpful. Epilepsy can be a lonely ride, a feeling of losing your independence, your memory, a fear of unexpected fits or seizures, and one that I believe deserves broader attention.
At nineteen, I had my first seizure. My family immediately took me to A&E at Milton Keynes Hospital which ended in me having a blood test, an ECG, and receiving an anxiety diagnosis which was not unexpected; it was already clear that I experienced anxiety, but it was evident that this was not the underlying issue. Throughout the next few weeks, my seizures became a daily occurrence, and each day was becoming increasingly frightening. Eventually A&E became a second home, one for us to sit and be told that I was anxious. After my biggest seizure, which left me feeling like I’d ran a marathon with weights attached to myself, the situation was starting to become dire, and we were running out of options with the NHS. We did not get sent home from A&E that night, we left due to waiting times. This is when private health care became our next option.
A neurologist was hard to come by as even private institutions such as Saxon Clinic were nearly full, perhaps because those fortunate enough to afford it made the same decision. While we managed, not every household can, and it shouldn’t be their final solution. Almost immediately after my first appointment, things began to move forward. I was referred for an MRI, which was offered to me quickly, and received a diagnosis of focal cortical dysplasia affecting the right frontal lobe. As hastily as everything else, medication was given to me and my seizures calmed down, eventually stopping entirely. Other than the slight inconvenience of having to take two daily tablets, my life and my health are back to normal. But my experience will never change.
Just as I said, my intention is not to slander our healthcare system or our hospital. The MKUH charity plays a vital role in supporting the hospital by facilitating access to optimal care and resources. Through donations, they enhance the quality of healthcare provided to the Milton Keynes community. Consideration should also be given to the needs and interests of the workforce. I was sitting in A&E wondering when I would be seen while doctors, nurses, receptionists, etc, were trying their hardest to keep up. Since those difficult months, there has been some different reasons as to why I’ve had to go back, and they’ve all been positive experiences. However, we need to care for our NHS, our hospitals and ourselves. If you are struggling with Epilepsy, or a different illness for that matter, do your best to help yourself, whether trying different mental or physical options, and please, don’t be angry at our wonderful staff. It is time for the government to make a change, our NHS are already doing the best they can, as is our growing hospital.
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