Epilepsy Specialist Nurse Service

Service contact information

Service detail

Our specialist nurse service provides information and advice regarding epilepsy and its management for patients, families, carers and other health professionals.

We hold outpatient and telephone clinics between Monday and Friday to review patients, offering treatment advice and support on a range of clinical and social issues.   

Patients can also access us directly for via our Nurse Advice Line 0151 556 4008 Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.

Call the epilepsy specialist nurse service if you:

  • Experience a worsening in your seizure control
  • Experience adverse effects related to your epilepsy medications
  • Have concerns about your epilepsy or its treatment that cannot wait until your next appointment
  • Want advice on other issues related to your epilepsy
  • Are pregnant

For general enquires contact the Epilepsy Nurse Secretary 0151 556 3537

For enquires about epilepsy nurse appointments, please ring the patient access team 0151 556 3213

How the specialist epilepsy nurses can help 

Areas in which we provide help and information include:

  • understanding a diagnosis of epilepsy
  • medication management and side effects
  • safety and first aid (rescue medications, assessment and management of SUDEP risk)
  • transition from child to adult services
  • contraception & pre-conception counselling
  • pregnancy
  • epilepsy surgery (including vagal nerve stimulation)
  • driving
  • employment
  • finance (benefits and insurance)
  • social and leisure activities and travel
  • dissociative seizures
  • alcohol
  • mental health associated with seizures (including anxiety)
  • Sodium valproate risk acknowledgement annual review

Clinical assessment and monitoring

Our specialist epilepsy nurses aim to assist patients with all aspects of living with epilepsy. 

We can review management of epilepsy, offering practical advice help in the management of side effects of medication and the impact of living with epilepsy. As independent nurse prescribers, we can support with epilepsy medication reviews, making adjustments where necessary. We can refer patients to other health professionals and services if necessary. Most importantly, we are here to listen to any questions and concerns.

Information resources

The epilepsy nursing service keeps a library of resources in various formats, such as leaflets, to share with you. We can direct you to trusted sites for further information.

More links can be found at the bottom of this page.

A useful video can be found on YouTube called 'All about epilepsy' which explains what epilepsy is, how it is diagnosed, what seizures look like and how you can help someone who is having a seizure. It is available in several different languages.

There is also a short video on the Epilepsy UK website explaining what to do when someone has a seizure.

The website womenandepilepsy.org is also available in nine languages, including English, Polish and Spanish. The website is the perfect place to find answers to questions such as

  • Why is epilepsy different for women?
  • What are hormones and how do they affect epilepsy?
  • How does puberty affect epilepsy?
  • Will epilepsy affect my sex life?
  • Epilepsy and contraception  

For more information and the links to the international websites, please click here 

Animations are available about transitioning from child epilepsy services to adult epilepsy services, and also about epilepsy and pregnancy.

Education and training

The epilepsy nursing service is committed to improving and maintaining the standard of care for people with epilepsy.

The Walton Centre offers first aid and rescue medication training for patients, their families as well as employers and carers who work with people with epilepsy in the community.

 

Voluntary organisations

We maintain strong links with the national associations and regularly teach at their national and regional conferences. Find out more about these in our related information.

 

Getting here

Epilepsy Nurse Clinics – main building, Outpatients Department and the Sid Watkins building, Outpatients Department

Satellite Epilepsy Nurse Clinics – for pregnancy at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Whiston Hospital

Sid Watkins Building

Sid Watkins Building

This building hosts our Complex Rehabilitation Unit, some outpatients services, pain management services, corporate services and more.

Address

Lower Lane,Liverpool, L9 7BB

Directions and map

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is not responsible for third-party sites or content.

The Walton Centre - Main Hospital Building

The Walton Centre Main Building

This building hosts many of our in-patient services, including wards and theatres, and some outpatients services.

Address

Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 7LJ

Directions and map

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is not responsible for third-party sites or content.

Referral information

If you are under the care of a consultant neurologist at The Walton Centre then you can contact us directly for advice and information.

Alternatively a referral can be made by your healthcare professional.

Patient leaflets

Discharge guide for patients following surgery for epilepsy

This leaflet contains information and answers to frequently asked questions for patients who have had surgery for epilepsy.

Epilepsy transition - A young person's guide

Transitioning from child epilepsy services to adult epilepsy services

First Seizure

This leaflet contains information for those who have had a suspected seizure. It is also useful for family, friends or those who care for a person who has had a seizure for the first time.  

Vagal Nerve Stimulator Service

You may be considering having a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) if you have tried several anti-epileptic drugs and are still having seizures.

WADA Test

This test helps your doctors to discover which side of your brain controls speech and memory prior to you being considered for epilepsy surgery. 

View all related Patient leaflets

Page last updated: 22 June 2021

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