MSP SUPPORTS CALL FOR MORE EPILEPSY SPECIALIST NURSES IN THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND (Jim Hume)

MSP SUPPORTS CALL FOR MORE EPILEPSY SPECIALIST NURSES IN THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

April 16, 2008 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, has today spoken out on the need for better epilepsy services in the South of Scotland.

Speaking ahead of the Scottish Parliament debate this evening, Jim Hume said:-

"There are about 40,000 people in Scotland with epilepsy. The condition is complex making diagnosis and treatment difficult - there are many types of seizures and different types of epilepsy - and as a result more specialist and highly skilled nurses are desperately needed.

"The need for better services is unequivocal. There are five health authorities in Scotland who have no epilepsy specialist nurses and two of those fall in the south of Scotland - NHS Dumfries & Galloway and NHS Borders. NHS Ayrshire & Arran has only 1 nurse and needs another 3 additional nurses, whilst NHS Lanarkshire has only 2 specialist nurses and needs another 4.5 posts filled. NHS Lothian is slightly better as it already employees 5 specialist nurses, but still requires a further 3.5.

The MSP continued:-

"Specialist epilepsy nurses are highly skilled and experienced nurses. The patient centred approach to their work means that they're able to provide high quality, comprehensive care and advice to epilepsy sufferers from drug treatment through to very specific advice to pregnant women all the way through a pregnancy.

"Furthermore, at a time when the NHS is under immense pressure, it's well documented that speicalist epilepsy nurses actually reduce the burden on the service because they reduce the length of stay in hospital and increase patient satisfaction.

"People in contact with a specialist nurse have better access to information and are more likely to be compliant with their medication, and these nurses pick up on misdiagnosis and over-medication, therefore saving money and improving care at the same time.

"I commend Epilepsy Scotland on its campaign to improve on the current staffing levels and I hope that the Scottish Government through its Better Health, Better Care strategy puts more funding into this vital service."