North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group are launching a dedicated Adult Epilepsy Specialist Nurse Service for patients in North Norfolk and Rural Broadland delivered by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS trust.

Working closely with partners in the health service including Neurologists from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, local GPs and the Ambulance Service; the service aims to help patients manage their conditions increasing their quality of life and avoiding hospital admissions.

Juliet Ashton, Norfolk Community Health and Care Adult Epilepsy Specialist Nurse for North Norfolk said: “I am delighted to be a part of this new service. It is a great addition to the help already being offered and I look forward to supporting many more patients with epilepsy for their seizure control. By helping patients to take an active role in their epilepsy it can help to reduce seizures and allow patients to feel more in control. It will also help patients make informed decisions about managing their treatment and condition.

Nurse led clinics will be held across North Norfolk. This will allow patient’s the opportunity to see a nurse specialist in a location near to their home ensuring that patients can access support, advice and guidance helping them to keep on top of their condition.

Following the launch of the service an Epilepsy self-management App will also be introduced to allow patients to monitor their condition at home.

The app, called Epsmon, can be downloaded on to any smart phone. It helps patients monitor how many seizures they are having, assist in taking medication on time and address any lifestyle issues which could be triggering seizures.

“Seizure triggers can vary from one person to another and not everyone will have triggers.” Juliet explains; “however if you can identify the triggers it may help to reduce the number of seizures a patient is having by helping to avoid these.”

The service was launched on 1st February 2017.

Clinics will be held in:

  •   at the Norfolk and Norwich University hospitalThis service is in addition to the current county wide service operating from Dereham Hospital.
  •   North Walsham hospital and
  •   Kelling hospital
  •   Benjamin Court hospital in Cromer
  •   Aylsham Medical Practice
  •   Fakenham Medical Practice
  •   North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group (NN CCG) is a local membership organisation led by family doctors that is responsible for planning and paying for healthcare services. We do not provide healthcare like a GP practice or hospital. Our role is to make sure the appropriate NHS care is in place for the people of North Norfolk, within the budget we have available. Formed in 2012 following the Health and Social Care Act 2012, we are made up of 19 GP Practices in North Norfolk and rural Broadland. These practices are all members of our organisation. The member doctors will lead the decisions about which hospital services, mental health services and the community healthcare services are needed for the 171,000 people living in the area our member practices cover. The CCG has a Governing Body that meets in public every other month.
  •   More information about North Norfolk CCG can be found here