Access to medication and your rights

For people with Dravet Syndrome and other epilepsies, missing even a few doses of anti-seizure medication can be life-threatening. Because of this, UK law allows pharmacists to provide an emergency supply of anti-seizure medications. This might be needed if you’ve run out, are away from home, or can’t reach your regular pharmacy.

You have a legal right to your epilepsy medication under The Human Medicines Regulations 2012:

• Patients can request an emergency supply of anti-seizure medication from any pharmacy, and they have a duty to provide it (as long as certain conditions are met).
• Pharmacists are allowed to provide an emergency supply of anti-seizure medication without prescription.
• If the pharmacist is unable to make an emergency supply, they must advise you on how to obtain essential medical care.

The Charlie Card is a free resource to help you explain your urgent need for epilepsy medication to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in these situations. The Charlie Card is available to anyone with epilepsy for free via SUDEP Action: 

• Order a physical card from the SUDEP Action shop: www.charitycardshop.com/sudepaction
• Download a printable version from the SUDEP Action website: www.sudep.org/charlie-card/

For further details, see:

Emergency supply of medicines | Medicines guidance | BNF | NICE

Charlie Marriage: Prevention of Future Deaths Report – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

SUDEP Action has developed and launched the Charlie Card in partnership with Charlie’s mother Henrietta Hastings and the family.