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2008

Embargo: 00.01 Thursday 22 May 2008

A Helping Hand for Epilepsy Specialist Nurses

Scotland has too few specialist nurses to meet the needs of 40,000 people affected by epilepsy.  In a campaign launched today, Epilepsy Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government and 14 health boards to provide more specialist nurses for better epilepsy care.

Chief Executive Susan Douglas-Scott explained, “Managing epilepsy generally is hard work and yet Scotland has just 24 nurses who specialise in caring for people with epilepsy.  These nurses do a tremendous job by supporting families at vulnerable times in their lives.  People have patiently waited but still no health board yet meets recommended targets for specialist nurses.  We hope the public will join our campaign.  We’ll supply a form to send to local health boards that asks for more epilepsy nurses.”

Current numbers of nurse specialists fall short of the recommended 61.5 posts for health boards across the country.  This leaves existing epilepsy and learning disability nurses facing huge case-loads. Several health boards don’t employ a local specialist nurse.  This can mean people living with this common serious neurological condition have to travel to other health board areas to benefit from this essential service.

Research has shown that epilepsy nurses can improve standards of patient care, reduce the workload of consultants, and provide information that is tailored to suit each person.

During a recent Scottish Parliamentary members debate for better epilepsy care, Public Health Minister Shona Robinson agreed that the Scottish Government supported the terms of the motion.  She also highlighted the need to ensure “that services for people with epilepsy are integrated fully across primary and hospital care and that they are provided by a multidisciplinary team”.

Scotland's largest healthcare union UNISON is also backing the campaign. Bridget Hunter, Lead officer for Nursing at UNISON said: "We have been campaigning for increasing numbers of trained nurses since 2001. The need to increase specialist nurses for conditions such as epilepsy is an important part of that increase, and UNISON is delighted to add its support to the campaign."

Ends

Notes to editor

  1. Epilepsy Scotland works with people affected by epilepsy to ensure that their voice is heard. As the national epilepsy charity, we campaign for improved healthcare, better information provision and an end to stigma. This common serious neurological condition affects one in 130 people. We represent nearly 40,000 Scots with epilepsy, their families and carers. Our freephone Helpline (0808 800 2200) offers advice, leaflets and support while information is also available from our website: www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk
  2. Our campaign leaflet 'More specialist nurses, better epilepsy care' can be viewed and downloaded from our website. People can ask for a copy by calling 0808 800 2200. It will be launched with MSPs in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 22 May directly after First Minister's Question Time around 12.30pm.
  3. The Joint Epilepsy Council for the UK and Ireland (JEC) recommends one nurse per 100,000 of the population. Scotland will need almost three times more specialist nurses to meet that target.
  4. Epilepsy can develop at any age. People with learning disability may also have epilepsy. Based on local health board populations, 61.5 specialist nurses are required to assist children and adults with epilepsy and those with learning disability across Scotland.
  5. Specialist nurses are senior nurses who provide a wide range of services: from epilepsy management and treatment; first seizure clinics, review clinics and transition services; pre-conception planning and pregnancy to telephone advice, home visits, talks to schools and training for GPs, practice nurses and professional carers.
  6. National SIGN guideline; Diagnosis and Management of Epilepsy in Adults, highlights that epilepsy specialist nurses are cost-effective; they reduce the length of stay in hospital and increase patient satisfaction. It also states that people in contact with an epilepsy specialist nurse have better access to information and are more likely to be compliant with their medication. It stresses that these nurses pick up on misdiagnosis and over-medication, therefore saving money and improving care at the same time.
  7. Hugh O’Donnell MSP led a members debate on 16 April 2008 in the Scottish Parliament.  It called for better epilepsy care. Details of the transcript can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk
  8. National Epilepsy Week 2008 runs from 18-24 May and has raising awareness as its theme. Case studies of people with epilepsy who themselves help to raise awareness of the condition are available from our Communications Manager
  9. For more details or interviews with people who use Epilepsy Scotland's services please contact: Allana Parker, Communications Manager on: 0141 419 1701 or 07884 012 147.

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