Erica Chisanga, Addenbrooke’s epilepsy
specialist nurse practitioner, has won a prestigious national
award. The Gowers’ Combined Nursing and Health Professional
Award was presented to Erica at the UK Chapter Annual Scientific
Meeting in Newcastle for a dissertation she wrote on the care
of elderly patients with epilepsy, the findings of which have
already helped to improve the services they receive.
“The aim was to improve services for older people,”
says Erica. “I felt that this was an area that hasn’t
been addressed, and that older people are not being given the
same opportunities as younger people.”
Erica undertook an audit to help her write the dissertation,
and found that although there was a lot of good practice in the
care of elderly people with epilepsy, there were some areas that
needed improvement.
“The service has changed to address patients’ needs.
Sometimes patients can’t drive to clinics, for example,
so we have shifted care from just having clinics at the hospital
to home visits. The added benefit is that you see more about the
patient than you would just in clinic.”
In her role as epilepsy specialist nurse practitioner, Erica
has a wide remit. She sees patients within the Cambridgeshire
area with epilepsy, including the elderly, whether they are newly-diagnosed
or have had the condition for years. Erica makes sure that their
epilepsy is managed in the best possible way, monitors how they
are getting on with treatment and makes changes if necessary.
In some cases she will share their care with the consultant neurologist,
or sometimes patients’ care can be managed between Erica
and the GP.
Erica’s work doesn’t stop with the elderly - working
with the obstetric team, she helps to run the ‘epilepsy
in pregnancy’ clinic. Erica monitors the treatment for epilepsy
taken during pregnancy, and with obstetric colleagues monitors
the baby’s growth, as well as providing advice and counselling.
Erica also runs an adolescent clinic with the paediatric team,
seeing patients between the ages of 14-17 before they make the
transition to adult care.
For further information, please contact Emma Oram, Press Officer
PR & Communications, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 2QQ
Tel: 01223 274433 Fax: 01223 257143
Email: emma.oram@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
