PCT SHOULD FUND VITAL SAPPHIRE NURSE
December 1, 2008 12:00 AM
North Devon Epilepsy Action is campaigning for a specialist Sapphire Nurse and Nick Harvey fully endorses this welcome initiative.
'North Devon has a significant number of epileptics,' says Nick Harvey, 'who would greatly benefit from the additional support of a Sapphire Nurse.
'What is very commendable is that the national charity Epilepsy Action will initially fund such a nurse for a year, which will establish the requirement; after that though it is beholden to Devon Primary Care Trust to fund the service.
'I am currently pressing the PCT's Chief Executive,' says Nick 'to work closely with Epilepsy Action and to capitalise on a scheme that can only benefit the local community.'
The North Devon Branch of Epilepsy Action is very active and recently organised a charity concert in Ilfracombe and holds regular seminars in Barnstaple supported by epilepsy experts.
Notes for Editors:
Within the Devon PCT area there are around 5,700 people with epilepsy, 700 reside in North Devon.
NICE Clinical Guideline 20 of October 2004 recommends that epileptics should have a regular, structured review, this should offer access to an Epilepsy Specialist Nurse.
Sapphire Nurses are designed to free up consultants time, hospital bed space, reduce A&E admittance and reduce overall costs.
Sapphire Nurses are currently only available in Plymouth and Torbay.
For more information contact:
Stephen McCarthy, North Devon Epilepsy Action: Tel 01272 863087
Gavin Barlow, Sapphire Nurse Scheme Co-ordinator: Tel 0113 210 8800
or e-mail epilepsy@epilepsy.org.uk
Also see: www.epilepsy.org.uk
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