We would like to bring to your attention the plight of Stephen Barnes, living in Birchgrove, Swansea, South Wales. Stephen is a well liked 17 year old boy who has a complex form of sub- clinical epilepsy. Stephen was diagnosed with sub-clinical epilepsy in 2006 after becoming regularly vacant and unresponsive for up to 2 minutes at a time after which he would not know where he was, what he was doing or what date or time it was. He got very upset as a result after these episodes. The condition progressed to Stephen collapsing to the ground occasionally. This has now increased to Stephen collapsing on average 2-3 times a day, it is only a matter of time before serious injury occurs. Over the past four years he has been treated by Morriston Hospital, Swansea and has undergone numerous drug regimes, none of which has led to any lasting improvement in his condition and they have all had devastating effects on both his body and his mind. He has gained over four stone in weight, he has no concrete memories of the last four years and his cognitive ability has regressed. His parents, Jon and Jan Barnes, have sought referral to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queens Square, London. Their GP supports this request, but they have been told that this has to be done through Stephens’s consultant and because in Wales, health is a devolved issue and comes under the control of the Welsh Assembly Government, he first has to be referred to centres in Wales regardless of expertise. Help us raise this matter in the House or at the Welsh Assembly to expedite this referral. Stephen has already lost over four years of his life, he does not have the time to wait for bureaucracy to run its course. He is also in very real danger of undergoing serious harm due to the increase in episodes of collapse. Neither Stephen nor anyone else gets warning when this is going to happen making it impossible to ensure his safety. Please sign the petition overleaf and help us get Stevie the treatment he deserves Help us Help Stevie

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