Government and official bodies

Department of Health
The aim of the Department of Health is to improve the health and well-being of people in England.

National Health Service
Aims to bring about the highest level of physical and mental health for all UK citizens, within the resources available, by promoting health and preventing ill-health; diagnosing and treating injury and disease; and caring for those with a long-term illness and disability, who require the services of the National Health Service.

Department for Education and Skills
UK government department whose aim is to give children an excellent start in education, enable young people to equip themselves with life and work skills, and encourage adults to achieve their full potential through learning.

Department for Work and Pension
Responsible for delivering support and advice through a modern network of services to people of working age, employers, pensioners, families and children and disabled people in the UK.

Health and Safety Executive
Ensures that risks to people's health and safety from work activities in the UK are properly controlled.

Scottish Executive Health Department
Responsible for health policy and the administration of the NHS in Scotland.

Health of Wales Information Service
Aims to promote the health and well being of everyone living in Wales and provide effective and efficient health services.

Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Responsible for policy and legislation to promote and protect the health and well-being of the population of Northern Ireland.

Charity Commission of England and Wales
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the statutory organisation that regulates charities. Aims to give the public confidence in the integrity of charities.

Commission for Health Improvement
Aims to improve the quality of patient care in the NHS.

Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection
Aims to strengthen the accountability of those responsible for the commissioning and delivery of health and social services, to demonstrate to the public how the additional money being invested in these services is being spent and enable them to judge how performance is improving as a result and to streamline inspection arrangements for health and social care.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
An independent, non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department of Health. Its remit is to ensure that the public is involved in decision making about health and health services.

US Food and Drug Administration
Aims to promote and protect the public health of the United States by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety after they are in use.

Australian Department of Health and Ageing
Aims include promoting good health and ensuring all Australians have access to key health services.

Health Canada
The federal department responsible for helping the people of Canada maintain and improve their health.

New Zealand Ministry of Health
Committed to improving the health and independence of New Zealanders, and to reducing the inequalities in health status between all New Zealanders including Maori and Pacific peoples.

Irish Department of Health and Children
Protect promote and restore the health and well-being of people of Ireland.

South African Department of Health
To promote a caring and humane society in which all South Africans have access to affordable, good quality health care.

Epilepsy Helpline

Epilepsy groups challenge patients to take charge of their health
Less than half of patients with active epilepsy in the United States are informed by their doctors about treatment options, according to a survey by the American Epilepsy Society and the Epilepsy Foundation.
Reports of seizure frequency may be inaccurate in patients with partial epilepsy
Asking people who have partial seizures how often they have seizures does not appear to provide an accurate count, according to a report in the journal Archives of Neurology.