The Children’s Epilepsy Nursing Service is based at Rotherham Hospital and provides support to children with epilepsy as well as their families.
Epilepsy can affect many aspects of a child’s life. Our nurses work with the child, their family and the rest of the team to try to minimise the disruption epilepsy can cause.
We also provide support with medication and educate children and their families on what they can do to manage the condition themselves.
The epilepsy nurse will see children and their families to help with the following issues:
- investigations into epilepsy
- a new diagnosis of epilepsy
- education around epilepsy for: families / childminders / respite centres
- medication issues and management
- first aid education
- telephone support
- clinic appointments
A paediatrician (children's doctor) would usually make the referral to the epilepsy service. Referrals to the paediatrician would usually come from your GP or via the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre (A&E) if your child requires urgent care.
How we deliver care
Children with epilepsy require specialist care and their medication needs regular monitoring. The overall care of children with epilepsy in Rotherham is managed by consultant paediatricians (children’s doctors). This is usually via clinic appointments.
In between these appointments, the epilepsy nurse can provide support on a day to day basis to help families with certain issues such as making the most of school, staying safe and enjoying leisure activities.
The epilepsy nurse can help with ‘fine tuning’ medication to try to avoid hospital attendances. This is often via the telephone support service.
If you are concerned about your child
If your child is in immediate danger, please call 999.
If the concern is less urgent then please contact the epilepsy nursing service on 07899 967864.
Please be aware that this is not a 24hr service and the answerphone message will say when the epilepsy nurse is available.
If the epilepsy nurse is not available but you need some advice quickly, then please contact your consultant paediatrician via the hospital switchboard on 01709 820000.