Skip to main content

Seizures and epilepsy

The Birmingham Complex Epilepsy and Surgery Service is a nationally renowned clinical epilepsy unit that provides care, support and information for people with epilepsy, both newly diagnosed and long-standing. Many patients with complex epilepsy are referred to us from other centres to benefit from our expertise.

We see patients in the following clinics:

  • General neurology
  • Specialist epilepsy
  • Specialist epilepsy surgery

We liaise with other specialties and GPs to provide all round care, including:

  • investigations
  • diagnoses
  • the latest treatments
  • information
  • support

Our team consists of:

  • neurologists
  • neurophysiologists
  • neurosurgeons
  • epilepsy specialist nurses
  • clinical physiologists (neurophysiology)
  • neuropsychologists, and
  • neuroradiologists

The team also collaborate with cardiac physiology to assess undiagnosed blackouts and with neuropsychiatry for non-epileptic attack disorder.

We carry out pre-surgery assessment, including invasive and non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring, functional – memory, language, motor imaging and all epilepsy operations for patients whose medication is unsuccessful and who still have frequent seizures. We also carry out trials of new medications and new surgical procedures.

We have close links with the University of Birmingham, which researches the latest technology to help us to diagnose, assess and treat epilepsy. Our unit is very experienced in epilepsy surgery and has a long record of assessing anti-epileptic drugs.

We offer vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and specialised assessment of the electrical activity of the brain incorporating intracranial video telemetry (ICVT), brain mapping and single pulse electrical stimulation (SPES) alongside resective surgery.

Last reviewed: 21 August 2024

Our emergency departments (A&Es) are very busy at the moment

You may be seen quicker elsewhere for health concerns that are not life-threatening. To help you make the best choice on accessing healthcare, see the alternative options.