Evaluating an epilepsy clinical nurse specialist development programme

Abstract

There is a demand across the country for highly trained epilepsy specialist nurses (ESNs) due to the increasing number of patients that this long-term condition affects. It is estimated that 65 million people worldwide are affected by epilepsy. If not treated and supported effectively, epilepsy comes with high risk of mortality, comorbidities, stigma and high potential costs to the NHS. Patients who do not have access to a highly trained ESNs can be significantly and negatively affected by wrong diagnosis, gaps in knowledge when facing general care, incorrect and, on occasion, detrimental treatment options, poor epilepsy education and advocacy. Furthermore, patients living in rural areas often do not have access to large tertiary centres or neurologists with an interest in epilepsy. Due to this, access to ESNs running nurse-led clinics in smaller hospitals and community settings is vital to improving patient care. Nonetheless, there is a shortage of highly trained ESNs. The ESN development programme discussed in this article was formed as a concerted action to address recruitment challenges and widen the area and scope of care for people with an epilepsy diagnosis.