A new study is taking place in Neurology and the Emergency Department (ED) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), aims to improve the hospital journey for patients admitted with seizures.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Lyn Greenhill, has joined the Neurology team at QEHB trialling a specialist on-call service when patients attend ED due to seizures.

The study hopes to determine whether an on-call CNS in epilepsy, designated to review seizure patients at first point of contact in ED, can make a difference; helping us to meet NHS targets and improve patient journey.

Lyn joins us from the Barberry, part of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS FT and brings 18 years of experience in her field.

“This project provides an exciting opportunity to improve epilepsy care. Being admitted to ED with uncontrolled seizures is hugely stressful for patients and their relatives. They face long and daunting waits to be seen or often inappropriate admissions to wards as there are insufficient specialist clinicians to review them. Early, specialist review and a designated care pathway at the point of admission will transform patient care.”

Consultant Neurologist, Shani Samarasekera, is confident the trial will deliver interesting results.

”The impact of specialist nurses in epilepsy has been repeatedly demonstrated to transform patient care; An experienced CNS allows us to manage our patients and families, safely, sensitively and more efficiently meeting both patient and organisational expectations.”

The study follows a successful similar trial for stroke patients at QEHB in 2012 which also started with one stroke nurse on-call. This has now grown to a rota of six nurses due to provide a regular on-call service for stroke patients 24/7 from June 2019, improving care on first entry to the hospital and throughout their subsequent treatment.

Consultant Stroke Physician, Don Sims, believes the on-call nurses are vital for patients.

“The expanded role of specialist nurses in ED has been instrumental in allowing stroke patients rapid access to newer therapies such as thrombolysis and thrombectomy. They are often the first point of contact for any new stroke admitted and continue following that patient in their stroke clinics for up to six months after discharge, giving them insight and involvement across the whole pathway to the benefit of patients.”

It is hoped that the new trial for seizures will follow the successful study for stroke and lead to the adoption of regular on-call specialist nurses for patients with seizures.

The pilot will run until June 2019. Should you have any queries about the study, please email Lyn Greenhill, CNS.

Email: Lyn.Greenhill@uhb.nhs.uk