Epilepsy Specialist Nurse Service
Our epilepsy 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 on 0151 556 3537
For enquires about epilepsy nurse appointments, please ring the Patient Access Centre on 0151 556 3213
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 and 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.
Epilepsy Nurse Clinics are held in the Outpatients Departments in The Walton Centre’s main building and Sid Watkins building
Satellite Epilepsy Nurse Clinics for pregnancy are held at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Whiston Hospital
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.
Useful links
International League Against Epilepsy — British Branch
Epilepsy Research Institute UK
Leaflets
Discharge guide for patients following surgery for epilepsy
Epilepsy transition - A young person's guide
First Seizure
Vagal Nerve Stimulator Service
WADA Test