Adults throughout the Highlands are to benefit from improved epilepsy services with the appointment of the region's first Sapphire Nurse.
Epilepsy Action, in conjunction with NHS Highland, has appointed Donald 'Tosh' Mackintosh as a nurse who specialises in caring for people with epilepsy who also have learning disabilities. Based in Inverness and travelling to areas across the Highlands, Tosh will be working in partnership with NHS Highland consultants and nurses to provide the vital service.
As well as setting up outreach epilepsy clinics around the region, Tosh will be investigating the use of video conferencing in a bid to reach people living in isolated rural areas. He will also play a key role in delivering epilepsy awareness training to service providers as part of a wider learning disability and epilepsy programme.
Tosh said: "It's great to have the opportunity to build on the services already in place and, importantly, make care and information accessible to as many people as possible. I'll be offering advice on a whole range of epilepsy-related topics from epilepsy and learning disability to drug side-effects. I'll also be offering specialist support and information to GPs, practice nurses and voluntary groups.”
Tosh is a trained nurse and joins from the Badenoch and Strathspey area, where he worked as a community learning disability charge nurse for three years. Before this, Tosh spent 18 years working as a nurse across various NHS Highland areas.
Gavin Barlow, Epilepsy Action's Sapphire Scheme co-ordinator, said: "Epilepsy Action is delighted to have worked with NHS Highland to create this new post. Tosh's appointment is a really positive step forward in epilepsy care. We're hoping it will come a very long way in helping to meet the needs of people with epilepsy and learning disabilities across the Highlands."
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 Action, the UK’s largest member-led epilepsy organisation, has an extensive network of branches. The branches hold regular meetings and offer a variety of social events and informative talks and discussions relating to epilepsy. Last year alone, Epilepsy Action directly helped over 731,000 people through a range of services, including its advice and information centre and Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050.