Karen Deacon & Sharon Wood, Joint Epilepsy Council of UK & Ireland;
“Jane Hanna has made a real impact on the lives of people with epilepsy, their families and carers. Epilepsy Bereaved was a founder member of the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) and Jane has been a very active participant, sitting both on the Executive Board of Directors and as Chair of the JEC Health Policy Development Group.
“Jane has been relentless in her campaigning and influence of health policy. She was involved in the NICE guidance and commissioning directives for Wales, campaigning for people with epilepsy and gaining recognition of SUDEP. The JEC are delighted that Jane has been acknowledged with a formal honour of recognition of her service to people with epilepsy and the families, carers and friends that have lost loved ones”.
Phillip Lee, Chief Executive Officer Epilepsy Action;
“The charity Epilepsy Bereaved has performed an immense public service by highlighting the issues to do with epilepsy related death and SUDEP in particular. It continues to carry out this work and is recognised internationally as a leader in its field. Jane Hanna’s award of an OBE is a wonderful recognition of her outstanding contribution to improving the lives of people who are affected by epilepsy. Through Epilepsy Bereaved, Jane’s tireless work has not just supported and comforted families who have lost loved ones. Her efforts to bring epilepsy related death and especially SUDEP ‘out of the shadows’ has undoubtedly changed peoples’ thinking, helped to improve epilepsy services and fundamentally has saved lives as a result”.
“Everyone at Epilepsy Action would like to say ‘Congratulations and well done’ to Jane Hanna and Epilepsy Bereaved. This is a marvellous award and shows just how far public recognition of SUDEP and epilepsy related death has moved as a result of Jane’s incredible work and the efforts of all at Epilepsy Bereaved.”
Graham Faulkner, Chief Executive, National Society for Epilepsy;
“On behalf of everyone at the National Society for Epilepsy our congratulations to Jane on the award of her OBE. The Sentinel Audit into SUDEP was a defining event in raising awareness of epilepsy and in exposing the life threatening nature of the condition. Jane’s dedication and commitment to bringing the shocking statistics about SUDEP to the fore have been hugely instrumental in encouraging Government to begin to address the need for improvements in services for people with epilepsy. This award is richly deserved”.
Roger Kendall, Trustee Epilepsy Here;
“Please convey the congratulations of all at Epilepsy HERE to Jane and all those at Epilepsy Bereaved on this award”
Simone Jeacock (Acting CEO) Meath Epilepsy Trust;
“Many congratulation on your very well deserved award!”
Emma Williams Matthew’s Friends;
“Fantastic news and very much well deserved”.
Ireland;
Mike Glyn CEO Brainwave
‘Brainwave has found the work of Epilepsy Bereaved a wonderful model for its own efforts in seeking to increase awareness of SUDEP and other epilepsy deaths, to help survivor families and to advocate strongly for measures to prevent unnecessary epilepsy deaths and to promote research to discover the cause of SUDEP. The incredible achievements of Epilepsy Bereaved from such humble beginnings and in such a short space of time are profoundly inspiring’
Scotland;
Allana Parker Communications Manager Epilepsy Scotland
“We are thrilled that Jane Hanna is receiving an OBE. Hundreds of families have been supported by Epilepsy Bereaved thanks to the passionate commitment of Jane who established this national charity in 1995. Her dedication to find new ways to improve epilepsy care led significantly to the development of the National Sentinel Audit into Epilepsy in 2002. From this, new processes and procedures began that improved epilepsy management across the UK.
Her leading role as a former chair of the Joint Epilepsy Council’s health group ensured a higher political priority than this often neglected cause usually received. For those families seeking information and advice following the devastating loss if a loved one, Jane Hanna is their heroine. Her collaboration on SUDEP (Sudden and Unexpected Death in Epilepsy)
literature with Epilepsy Scotland and other epilepsy organisations has made information more accessible. It has given an informed choice to those newly diagnosed. She fully deserves being recognised and honoured for her unstinting work.”
Shirley Maxwell, Executive Director Epilepsy Connections
“I’m delighted to hear that Jane Hanna has been awarded an OBE for her services to epilepsy. Jane’s tireless work over the last 18 years to raise awareness and develop understanding of SUDEP has influenced policy and practice in the care of people with epilepsy in the UK and abroad, making a real difference to their health and welfare. This is a timely and well-deserved recognition of Jane’s achievements and of the invaluable support that Epilepsy Bereaved provides to families affected by SUDEP, but there’s still a long way to go to reduce the number of avoidable deaths from epilepsy and I hope that the award will help to raise the profile of Epilepsy Bereaved and their support, campaigning and research work”.
Wales;
Lesley Morris, Coordinator Epilepsy Wales;
“Epilepsy Wales would like to offer its sincere congratulations to Jane Hanna, Epilepsy Bereaved, on the announcement of her OBE.
Knowing Jane, this award will be accepted on behalf of all the staff and volunteers at Epilepsy Bereaved. We would like to join with the individuals and families who have sadly had to contact Epilepsy Bereaved over the years in thanking the organisation for the unique support offered to anyone who has been bereaved through an epilepsy related death.
This award could not have come at a better time as we celebrate National Epilepsy Week and have the opportunity of raising the profile of a condition that affects about 23,000 people in Wales, and is responsible for about 50 deaths in Wales each year.
Llongyfarchiadau Jane! congratulations Jane and all at Epilepsy Bereaved from Epilepsy Wales.
