Calls will be answered immediately by a registered nurse trained in epilepsy management, and emails will be responded to within 24 hours. This service is going to be particularly life-changing for people who have limited access to face-to-face healthcare.
Living with epilepsy for almost two decades, Donna said: “Living with a chronic condition like epilepsy means I’m often calling to make an appointment at my doctor’s or specialist’s office, but sometimes I just have a really simple question, maybe about some new symptoms, or medication side effects, and it’s frustrating to have to make a doctor’s appointment to get these questions answered.
“The new Epilepsy Nurse Line will mean I can get this information from a healthcare professional trained in epilepsy management, exactly when I need it – at home, at work, or even on the train if necessary.
“It will save so much time.”
Scheduled to have brain surgery in just over a month, Donna has already used the Epilepsy Nurse Line to get more information which helped her make her decision about going ahead with the surgery.
“The surgery will hopefully reduce the number of seizures I experience and improve my quality of life overall,” she added.
Associate Professor Armin Nikpour, Head of Neurology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown, welcomed the launch of the Epilepsy Nurse Line, saying: “I know that many of my patients and their families will find this new Epilepsy Nurse Line extremely helpful in accessing reliable, safe and qualified information about their condition.”
The Epilepsy Nurse Line can be accessed from 9am to 5pm seven days a week by phoning 1300 EPILEPSY (37 45 37).
Lifeline at last for those living with chronic epilepsy condition
DONNA Shrimpton of St Peters is among the winners after Epilepsy Action Australia last week launched a new national helpline specifically for people with epilepsy and their families.