Epilepsy charity Epilepsy Action Cymru is launching a campaign to increase the number of epilepsy specialist nurses in Wales.
The campaign was created after figures showed that there are currently only nine epilepsy specialist nurses in the country. Some health boards have no specialist nurses at all.
The charity estimates that 88 more are needed to support the 26,000 adults living with epilepsy.
Simon Wigglesworth, deputy chief executive of Epilepsy Action, said that this means that epilepsy care for people in Wales can fall below the standard it should be.
‘We are calling on the Welsh government to work with the necessary agencies to provide more epilepsy specialist nurses in Wales. They are vitally needed,’ he added.
Epilepsy specialist nurses advise and support people with all aspects of their condition – from treatment, to social aspects, to benefit claims. They promote good practice and act as a specialist resource in the diagnosis, treatment and care of people with epilepsy.
They manage clinics and offer counselling, advice and discussion on all aspects of their condition. They also work between GP practices and hospitals, developing the knowledge of GPs and practice nurses.
Epilepsy Action Cymru is calling on people in Wales to contact their Assembly Members to encourage them to engage with the campaign. People can find out more by visiting www.epilepsy.org.uk/nursecampaign.