Who are we?
The Epilepsy Nurse Specialist aims to provide people with Epilepsy access to clinical monitoring and medication adjustment; a continuing point of contact for support, including home visits when appropriate; and a reliable source of information about clinical and social matters of concern to people with Epilepsy and their carers.
Who do we work with?
The Epilepsy Specialist Nurse work’s closely with primary care teams, community nursing, GP’s, Neurological Consultants, Adult Social Care and Health and other specialist and voluntary services to ensure the highest possible quality of individualised care is provided.
Who is in the team?
The Epilepsy Nurse Specialist.
How can we help?
• By promoting and delivering specialist epilepsy care, empowering people with epilepsy to manage their condition as well as possible by providing appropriate information, education and support.
• By providing information concerning epilepsy, seizure type, treatment options, life style issues, first Aid and SUDD.
• By providing information, support and education to families and carers including first aid and rescue medication for prolonged or repeated seizures in accordance with NICE guidelines.
• By monitoring patients following medication changes.
• Providing specialist advice and support, and acting as a resource for all health professionals, patients, carers and other agencies.
• All patients referred to the Epilepsy Nurse will be offered a 1st contact nurse clinic appointment (usually 1 hr in duration).
• Follow up contact will be mutually agreed between the patient and the Epilepsy Nurse as a combination of nurse clinic appointments and/or telephone contact (Follow up nurse clinics usually 30 mins in duration).
• Patients with special needs (eg Mental Health issues, Learning Disabilities) should be offered longer and more frequent nurse clinic appointments as required (Follow up nurse clinics 1 hour duration if required).
• Patients requiring preconceptual counselling should also be offered a 1st clinic appointment of 1hr duration if required.
• Following nurse clinic appointments or changes to medication made over the telephone, the Epilepsy Nurse will confirm any action to be made in a letter to the patient with copies to the Consultant Neurologist and the GP.
Who can be referred?
People who have been diagnosed by a Consultant Neurologist:
• Age 16 and over.
• Registered with a GP within the area of Bassetlaw
Who can make a referral?
• The patient or carer/relative with the patient’s consent.
• Any health or social care professional with the consent of the patient.
How do you contact the service?
Contact can be made via Single Point of Access on 01777 274422
