New Guide Strives To Improve Care Of Neurological Conditions, UK

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Parkinson's Disease;  Alzheimer's / Dementia;  Epilepsy
Article Date: 02 May 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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A ground-breaking guide aimed at promoting the benefits of specialist nurses in the care of people with long term neurological conditions is launched today.

The important document results from a unique partnership between three of the UK's leading charities for neurological conditions, the MS Society, Epilepsy Action and the Parkinson's Disease Society, with the Department of Health, Royal College of Nursing and NHS National Workforce Projects.

The guide, Long Term Neurological Conditions . A Good Practice Guide to the Development of the Multidisciplinary Team and the Value of the Specialist Nurse, will be launched at the Harrogate International Conference Centre.

The guidance document is being launched exactly one year on from a specialist nursing summit held on 1 May 2007 with Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services. This highlighted the vital role of specialist nurses in helping people with multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. The outcome of the meeting was that a guidance document would be prepared to outline best practice and educate health commissioners on the benefits of protecting the specialist nurse post.

It is aimed at commissioners and service providers for people with long term neurological conditions to help them offer the right service, delivered by an appropriate workforce, to meet patients' needs. It outlines why services for neurological conditions are important, demonstrates the value of multi-disciplinary teams and clarifies the contribution of specialist nurses. For example:

- An MS nurse could save an average PCT up to £18,000 a year by treating relapses at home rather than in hospital

- Misdiagnosis of epilepsy in England cost £134 million in 2004. An epilepsy nurse can save £184 per patient per year by improving diagnosis - a major saving across a primary care trust (PCT) with, on average, more than 80 epilepsy patients

- More than one in three people with Parkinson's disease are admitted to hospital every year. A Parkinson's disease nurse can have a significant impact in reducing hospital admissions and length of stay, addressing inequalities in access to neurologists ensuring specialist care is delivered and improving overall care and treatment.

Ann Keen MP, Minister for Health Services, said: "This guide is bound to become invaluable for service managers, staff and commissioners aspiring to excellence in the treatment of long term conditions. It shows that being able to deliver effective care does not necessarily mean spending more money but ensuring that the best methods of teamwork, planning and treatment are in place."

The MS Society funds more than 100 of the UK's MS specialist nurses and worked with the UK MS Specialist Nurses Association to contribute to the guide.

MS Society chief executive Simon Gillespie said: "The support of an MS nurse can make a massive difference to someone living with this devastating condition. Their range of knowledge and expertise is unique. This guide is an important step forward in safeguarding existing nurses and in making the case for more."

Epilepsy Action has been funding epilepsy specialist nurses (ESNs) through its Sapphire Nurse Scheme since 1995. There are currently approximately 200 ESNs in England; 80 of which are Sapphire Nurses.

Epilepsy Action chief executive Phil Lee said: "We are delighted to have been able to play an important part in producing this guide. It is a very positive step forward for people with epilepsy in that it will hopefully lead to more epilepsy specialist nurses. This in turn would go towards improving care."

The Parkinson's Disease Society has invested more than £8m in specialist Parkinson's nursing services since 1994 and there are currently more than 230 of them working across the UK.

Steve Ford, chief executive of the Parkinson's Disease Society, said: "Access to a Parkinson's disease nurse specialist is the number one campaign priority for people with Parkinson's. These nurses not only ensure patients are able to manage their symptoms effectively, they also offer the local health organisations opportunities to innovate how care is delivered."

The document can be viewed here.

Health Care Workforce