Councillor campaigns for epilepsy nurse

TORRIDGE Councillor Adam Symons is campaigning on behalf of epilepsy sufferers in North Devon after meeting members of the Epilepsy Action Group.  Currently, epilepsy patients have to travel either to Plymouth or Bristol to see a specialist epilepsy nurse

TORRIDGE Councillor Adam Symons is campaigning on behalf of epilepsy sufferers in North Devon after meeting members of the Epilepsy Action Group.

Currently, epilepsy patients have to travel either to Plymouth or Bristol to see a specialist epilepsy nurse, also known as a Sapphire Nurse.

Mr Symons, who is also the Prospective Liberal Democrat Candidate for Torridge and West Devon, said: "It is quite wrong that often vulnerable people with difficult conditions have to travel great distances just in order to get their prescriptions changed.

"Four hours travelling, for a 20-minute appointment is a waste of time, and bad for the environment. The group told me that some sufferers of the condition who struggle to travel end up using local acute NHS services, costing the NHS more money than if there was a local Sapphire Nurse."

Around 700 people in North Devon suffer from the condition and Epilepsy Action has been campaigning vigorously for the introduction of a Sapphire Nurse to provide dedicated care and advice.

The Epilepsy Helpline number is UK freephone 0808 800 5050

National Doodle Day - coming up on March 5 - is all about putting pen to paper while raising money to help people affected by epilepsy and neurofibromatosis. Go to www.nationaldoodleday.org.uk for more information.