Adults attending the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead are to benefit from improved epilepsy services with the appointment of the hospital’s first epilepsy Sapphire Nurse.
Epilepsy Action, in conjunction with the Royal Free Hospital Hampstead NHS Trust, has appointed Adina Nash as a nurse who specialises in caring for people with epilepsy. Adina will work as a clinical nurse specialist for epilepsy alongside consultant neurologists at the hospital to provide this vital service.
Adina said: “It’s great to have the opportunity to work with some of the leading neurologists in the field of epilepsy and to build upon the services already in place. This new service will enable people with epilepsy to access information and advice that they might otherwise feel unable to discuss. I’ll be offering advice on a whole range of epilepsy-related topics that might have implications upon a person’s health and social life. I will also be offering specialist support and information on epilepsy to our hospital-based practitioners, GPs, practice nurses, carers and voluntary groups.”
Adina is a trained nurse having worked in the NHS for the past 24 years. She joins the team at the Royal Free Hospital from the Ealing Primary Care Trust where she worked as a community nurse for people with learning disabilities. Adina has completed a BSc (Hons) degree in epilepsy and will continue to develop links with the epilepsy services across London.
Simon Wigglesworth, deputy chief executive at Epilepsy Action, said: "Epilepsy Action is delighted to have worked with the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust to create this new post. At a time when we are hearing of epilepsy specialist nurse posts in other areas of the country being cut, Adina's appointment is a really positive step forward for epilepsy care. The role epilepsy specialist nurses play in supporting people with epilepsy is essential. This new role will be vital in helping to meet the needs of people with epilepsy in London.”
The Sapphire Nurse Scheme originates from Epilepsy Action's 45th anniversary year (sapphire anniversary) in 1995. Sapphire Nurses reflect Epilepsy Action’s commitment to people with epilepsy and partnerships with funders and service providers. The Sapphire Nurse Scheme works with NHS trusts to appoint epilepsy specialist nurses throughout the UK.
Epilepsy affects one in every 131 people in the UK alone and 75 people are diagnosed with the condition every day. Epilepsy Action directly helps around 688,000 people each year through a range of services. These include its Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050, branch network, specialist nurse scheme and award-winning website, www.epilepsy.org.uk