Epilepsy Nurses Association (ESNA) published the new guidelines - Epilepsy and Buccal Midazolam
The Epilepsy Nurses Association (ESNA) has published new guidelines for professional carers regarding the administration of buccal (or mucosal) midazolam for epilepsy patients in the community. These guidelines have been replaced by the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) guidelines.
The JEC guidelines support the training of carers overseeing the use of buccal midazolam. An online assessment tool has been created to uphold these guidelines and ensure best practices in social care organizations.
The latest guidelines from ESNA have been produced in collaboration with the ILAE and the RCPsych. Phil Tittensor, Consultant Nurse for the Epilepsies at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, highlighted that one in every 103 people is affected by epilepsy in the UK, with this prevalence expected to rise.
“Management is key – not only for healthcare professionals but also for non-professional carers working in social settings, residential homes, and with individuals experiencing learning difficulties.”
Phil Tittensor
The new guidelines address individual training needs for the safe administration of buccal midazolam and serve as a benchmark for employers. Phil Tittensor emphasized:
“These resources ensure everyone caring for individuals with seizures and epilepsy has the same basic standard of knowledge. We urge anyone running or supervising in this setting to download the guidelines and make this easy-to-use assessment tool available to staff.”
Phil Tittensor
The ESNA best practice guidelines for training professional carers in the administration of buccal midazolam can be accessed via the Learning Connect website:
