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Leeds MP is campaigning to save the jobs of epilepsy specialist nurses,
calling on the Government to recognise their “pivotal” role
in caring for epilepsy sufferers.
John Battle (Lab, Leeds West) has tabled a motion in Parliament asking ministers
to ensure that financial problems in NHS trusts do not mean a loss of epilepsy
specialist nursing posts. The work of an epilepsy specialist nurse can involve
reviewing seizures, adjusting or changing medication and providing information,
as well as giving support and time to help reduce the impact of the condition
on a person and their family.
Mr Battle said: “I’m worried that some epilepsy nurses are being
threatened with redundancy, or are having to spend part of their time on non-specialist
duties. Others are leaving their posts and not being replaced. Of course the
financial problems in NHS trusts need to be tackled, but I don’t want to
see this impacting upon provision for people who have epilepsy.”
Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition in the UK, affecting
around 456,000 people. There are approximately 170 epilepsy specialist nurses
in the UK.
Mr Battle believes that specialist nursing care is vital to help those with epilepsy
live with their condition. He said: “These nurses have a pivotal part to
play in providing support and advice to people with epilepsy. If epilepsy specialist
nurses are made redundant, or give over much of their time to other nursing duties,
then the in-depth, specialist knowledge of the complexities of epilepsy that
people need will be missing.”
He went on: “My motion calls on the Government to provide more specialist
nursing posts and safeguard the role played by epilepsy nurses in the NHS. Of
course local NHS Trusts have the responsibility to allocate resources to meet
patient needs, but the Government must not allow Trusts to make short-term decisions
which will have severe long-term effects on the quality of life for people with
epilepsy.”
A government-funded report in 2002 concluded that more than 40% of deaths from
epilepsy were probably avoidable.
©John Battle MP 19 December 2006 |