Epilepsy Nurses Association (ESNA) published the new guidelines - Epilepsy and Buccal Midazolam

The Epilepsy Nurses Association (ESNA) published new guidelines for professional carers regarding the administration of buccal (or mucosal) midazolam for epilepsy patients in the community, which is now replaced by the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) guidelines. The Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) guidelines support the training of carers who are overseeing the use of buccal midazolam. An online assessment tool has been created to support the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) guidelines and ensure that best practice is maintained in social care organisations when administering buccal midazolam. The Epilepsy Nurses Association's (ESNA's)  latest guidelines have been produced alongside the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych). Phil Tittensor, the Consultant Nurse for the Epilepsies based at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said that one in every 103 people is affected by epilepsy in the UK. This prevalence is expected to rise. Along with concerns over incorrectly administered medication such as buccal midazolam, the need to keep the staff from healthcare assistants to support workers updated with best practices is essential. Phil Tittensor - “Management is key – not only in healthcare professionals but in non-professional carers who may be found working in social settings, residential homes and working with those experiencing learning difficulties,”. Phil Tittensor noted that the new guidelines were intended to address individual training needs for the safe administration of buccal midazolam and be used by employers to benchmark their services. Phil Tittensor added: “These resources ensure everyone in the country caring for and working with people who experience seizures and epilepsy has the same basic standard of knowledge. We’re urging anyone running, managing, or supervising people in this setting to download the guidelines and make this easy-to-use assessment tool available to staff.” The ESNA best practice guidelines for training professional carers in the administration of buccal midazolam can be accessed via the Learning Connect website either by online training - https://www.learningconnect.co.uk/Course/Specialised-Care-Courses/Epilepsy-and-Buccal-Midazolam or by face-to-face training - https://www.learningconnect.co.uk/Inhouse/Epilepsy-with-administration-of-rescue-medication