A joint project to create the first ever ‘national’ epilepsy specialist nurse has been announced.
The ‘super nurse’ is the brainchild of innovative non-profit organisation Neurological Commissioning Support (NCS) – who have identified the need for a national role to support commissioning for epilepsy.
The new nurse will work with NCS to provide expert advice and support to the newly established Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
Employed by Epilepsy Society and jointly funded by Epilepsy Action, the super nurse will give guidance to CCGs on how to improve epilepsy nursing services within hospitals and local neurology services.
This will help them to design better services that include epilepsy specialist nurses (ESNs) and support people with epilepsy.
The project will run for three years. During this period it is hoped that the new nurse will play a key part in the commissioning of services and advocate the importance of nurses within epilepsy services.
Epilepsy Society’s chief executive Graham Faulkner said: “In today’s financially challenged health service there are clear benefits to delivering a service model that can provide rapid service change and improved outcomes.
“There are around 600,000 people in the UK with epilepsy – around 70 per cent of whom could be seizure free with optimal care. We estimate that only around 50 per cent of people with epilepsy currently achieve seizure freedom. Since 2011 Epilepsy Society has been working alongside NCS undertaking audits of epilepsy services in GP practices. The audits have uncovered significant problems which could easily be improved with simple measures including the appointment of epilepsy specialist nurses. Evidence shows that the appointment of an epilepsy specialist nurse is a catalyst for service improvement, often leading to a reduction in inappropriate admissions to hospitals.
“We hope this innovative idea will influence the development of other epilepsy specialist nurse posts in the UK through mainstream funding.”
Philip Lee, chief executive of Epilepsy Action said: “The NHS is changing and through this new role we believe that we can encourage CCGs to ensure that they design better health services; new services that include epilepsy specialist nurses as a core element. We believe that everyone with epilepsy should have access to an ESN. They play such an important role in people’s care and help people to understand and manage their condition.
“It highlights just how versatile nurses are and demonstrates that their professional expertise can play a key part in improving services for patients.”
Sue Thomas, chief executive of Neurological Commissioning Support said: “We strive to be change leaders. It can take time for individual hospitals to develop a business case to support new care pathways and appoint staff. The ability to ‘parachute’ an experienced epilepsy specialist nurse into an area and work with existing teams to set the ball rolling will improve outcomes for patients.”
NCS are keen to hear from CCGs interested in working with the NCS Sapphire Epilepsy Nurse.