Peter Clough

I have broad experience in epilepsy starting at the David Lewis Centre for Epilepsy in 1996. As Associate Specialist in Epilepsy I was the clinical lead of the busy adult assessment unit. At the same time I also worked for David Lewis’s community arm, being clinically responsible for managing the care of those with complex epilepsies. I was also involved in weekly epilepsy clinics in East Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

When the David Lewis’ assessment unit closed and my role changed I moved to work for the Greater Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences. Here I continued my community and hospital based epilepsy clinics at Salford Royal Hospital; Withington Community Hospital and in Macclesfield. I also became an active member of the Greater Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences’ epilepsy surgery team.

At David Lewis I developed an interest in managing epilepsy in people with various degrees of learning disability. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, I have continued this interest in my current post. This can be extremely challenging but often very rewarding.

I work closely with GP commissioners, hospital consultants and epilepsy specialist nurses and managers in developing epilepsy services. This includes a Suspected First Seizure Rapid Access Service in Macclesfield and a Transition Clinic for patients moving from paediatric to adult services in Salford. I am currently working with managers to establish a similar Transition Clinic in East Cheshire.

I see my role as part of the team, working collaboratively with people with epilepsy and their families and carers to improve their quality of life. I believe it’s important to take a holistic approach that addresses social issues, like employment and benefits entitlement, as well as the physical, psychological and psychiatric issues that affect many people with epilepsy.

I am a professional member of Epilepsy Action.

I am not currently active in research but I have previously published on: the misdiagnosis of epilepsy; the use of midazolam as epilepsy "rescue" medication and reversible Parkinsonism in patents exposed to valproate.