Specialist nurse Conor Smyth wins ESN Heroes Award

Wolverhampton epilepsy advanced nurse practitioner Conor Smyth has been awarded the ESN Heroes Award by Epilepsy Action.

These awards, marking Epilepsy Action’s 75^th anniversary, celebrate epilepsy specialist nurses (ESNs) around the UK, who offer invaluable support to people with epilepsy.

Conor first qualified as a learning disability nurse. During his first post in a rehabilitation unit for children with acquired brain injury, he decided to undertake a diploma in epilepsy, and study epilepsy at master’s level in Leeds.

Following this, setting up an independent nurse-led epilepsy clinic for adults with learning disabilities was a key achievement for Conor. He then moved on to working in acute hospital settings and developed his role as an ESN.

He now works at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, advancing his practice and delivering support to his patients through follow-up and first seizure clinics, as well as joint learning disabilities clinics, transition clinics, joint ante-natal clinics and VNS clinics.

When nominating Conor, a patient of his said: “Conor helped me go from having seizures nearly every day, to absolutely nothing! When we met, I was having up to six focal seizures daily and at least three generalised seizures yearly. Conor referred me for epilepsy surgery after my first clinic appointment with him, telling me he could see straight away it would be the best route for me.

“Conor always looked at my care holistically, asking what I want, listening to what I had to say and paying attention to how epilepsy affected my life. He was compassionate and seemed to genuinely love his job. He was also knowledgeable and good at explaining things clearly; he could talk about the evidence behind treatments and knew when to try something different.

“I think Conor embodies what an epilepsy specialist nurse is meant to be – someone who focuses on improving each individual’s quality of life with epilepsy whilst always trying to get them as close as possible to seizure freedom.”

Making a difference to someone’s life

On receiving the award, Conor said: “Thank you for the award. I was truly shocked and surprised to have received it. It is very humbling to think that a patient has taken the time to nominate me.

“Professionally, it helps highlight the work that ESNs across the UK do and the impact their care and intervention has on patients’ lives. Whilst I have received this award, my ESN colleagues all strive to provide the best care they can, in, often, high demand environments, and they are all heroes!

“Personally, it is lovely to receive positive feedback and to hear how my involvement has made a difference to someone’s life. I think I can speak for all ESNs, that when an intervention has led to someone become seizure free, it is very rewarding.

“A diagnosis of epilepsy can understandably be terrifying for patients and their families, so it is crucial that we listen to their concerns and educate them honestly and appropriately.

“There are so many challenges people with epilepsy face. Access to the appropriate professional is key, especially at the time the patient requires it. As we know, seizures are unpredictable, so being able to respond to patients in a timely manner is something our team strives to provide.

“Consistency of care is also so important to establish the patient-clinician relationship. People with epilepsy will face challenges at different stages in their life (employment, driving, family planning etc) so that consistency of care can help provide opportunities to address them, at the time that it is needed.

“We know, that despite recommended rates, the numbers of ESNs in post remain much lower than this, so anything that can promote their impact is very welcome. There is so much great work by ESNs, and the award provides the opportunity to highlight that.”

“Heartfelt and inspiring”

Maisie Meegan, engagement coordinator at Epilepsy Action, said: “We recently celebrated Epilepsy Action’s 75^th anniversary, and, as part of the celebrations, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the incredible work of epilepsy specialist nurses across the UK.

“We invited the public to nominate their ESN for our ESN Heroes Award, and after reading through so many heartfelt and inspiring submissions, we were thrilled to be able to recognise Conor with this award.

“His dedication and impact have clearly resonated with the community and he’s an extremely worthy winner. Huge congratulations!”

Regional ESN Heroes Award winners

The awards also celebrated a number of regional winners:

• Jenny Edwards, Wales, Morriston Hospital
  “I am really so honoured, it means so much that our fantastic patients and supporters with Epilepsy Action took the time out to nominate me. I am really lucky to work with such incredible people, thank you.”

• Beth Irwin, Northern Ireland, Royal Victoria hospital
  “I feel surprised but extremely honoured to have been nominated. It is my pleasure to work with a dedicated team, past and present, of colleagues medical, nursing admin and charities. It has been my privilege to work with and strive to improve the lives of our clients with epilepsy and their families in Northern Ireland. And to receive this nomination has been extremely special to me.”
• Elizabeth Wright, Yorkshire, Leeds General Infirmary 
• Sheila Shepley, North West, The Walton Centre, Liverpool
• Joanne Glenton, North East, Royal Victoria Infirmary
  “This is such a lovely surprise, I’m absolutely blown away by the kindness. I love my job as an ESN and thoroughly enjoy it. The team I work with are amazing and supportive. It breaks our hearts how underfunded and understaffed epilepsy as a speciality is and one day we live in hope that this will improve, not only for us as a team to be able to give so much more, but for people living with epilepsy.
• Sophie Coleman, Midlands, Queens Medical Centre Nottingham
• June Greenway, East of England, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
  “What can I say, I’m lost for words. This is such a surprise, I’m genuinely overwhelmed! I am so fortunate to work alongside the amazing people that are affected by epilepsy in Norfolk as well as their professional teams. I feel honoured to be recognised as winning the Regional ESN Heros Award, and to receive this on behalf of the Norfolk ESN team for Norfolk Community Health & Care Trust. Epilepsy is much more than a diagnosis; it can be life changing! Supporting those who are living with epilepsy, their families, and carers to negotiate the challenges they may encounter, is why we do what we do. People living with epilepsy need not be defined by their diagnosis. To know that someone took the time to nominate me is very humbling. I would like to thank them and those who did so.”
• Michelle Knight, South West, Poole Hospital
• Elaine Westall, South East, Broomfield Hospital Chelmsford