In Ontario, 95,000 people live with epilepsy, and every year thousands of them make unnecessary trips to the Emergency Room, adding to the province’s Hallway Healthcare crisis and costing the healthcare system millions of dollars. It doesn’t need to be this way.
Epilepsy Ontario has sent a pre-budget submission to the provincial government, asking for $11 million dollars over 4 years, province-wide, to fund epilepsy education programs at Community Epilepsy Agencies. This would allow local agencies to continue and expand their education programs, including seizure first aid and when to go, and not to go, to the ER following a seizure. We would also be able to provide education programs in those parts of the province without a local agency.

We believe that the cost savings through reduced Emergency Room use will more than pay for this program. We have also requested an additional investment of $1 million per year for Community Epilepsy Agencies to assist those individuals and families who have more extensive needs, such as mental health issues, to manage their condition and live well in the community.

You can show your support for epilepsy education program funding by:

Sending a short, pre-written letter to the Health and Finance Ministers here
By contacting your local MPP (not sure who your MPP is? (Click here)