The epilepsy nurse specialistexpendable handmaiden or essential colleague?

The epilepsy nurse specialistexpendable handmaiden or essential colleague?

The benefits of a specialist epilepsy nurse in the management of people with epilepsy are still in question. Evidence from controlled clinical trials suggests that patients supported by a nurse specialist are well informed and have a high degree of satisfaction. However, no significant effect on health status or the number of seizures has been yet demonstrated, although this is not the primary ...

Ethics and health technology assessment: handmaiden and/or critic?

OBJECTIVES This study examines the content and role of ethical analysis in health technology assessment (HTA) and horizon scanning publications. It proposes that ethical analysis in HTA is of at least two different types: an ethics of HTA and an ethics in HTA. METHODS I examine the critical differences between these approaches through the examples of the analysis of genetic screening for brea...

Prescribing and the epilepsy specialist nurse

Increasingly, the epilepsy nurse specialist has become an integral part of the specialist epilepsy team. Nurse specialists, who practice at an advanced level, frequently advise patients on diagnosis and antiepileptic drug changes. The inclusion of antiepileptic drugs to the nurse Prescribing Formulary would allow specialist nurses to provide a more enhanced service to patients.

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Improving the epilepsy service: the role of the specialist nurse

There is currently a wide variation in the level of service provided for patients with epilepsy across the UK. Evidence is becoming available to suggest that improvements in local service provision may be achieved through the intervention of a specialist nurse. Using practical examples, this article explores the roles of the epilepsy specialist nurse, and examines how they may benefit patients ...