Transforming nurse education in epilepsy
Delivering a first-in-class educational programme for ESNs in the UK and Ireland
Challenge
Annually the NHS spends ~1.5 billion on epilepsy care. However, there are only ~500 Epilepsy Specialist Nurses (ESNs) to support the ~675,000 people with epilepsy in the UK and Ireland. Described as ‘the glue that connects services to people with epilepsy’, ESNs have repeatedly highlighted the urgent need for high-quality, professional education and training.
98%
of attendees would recommend the event to a colleague
Approach
Supported by funding from Angelini Pharma UK and Ireland, the ESN360 Academy Programme was launched in 2022 and is designed to be a nurse-led initiative* that provides practical training and guidance for ESNs.
For three years we have managed the organisation of an annual F2F event at the Royal College of Nursing; delivering an engaging agenda comprised of plenary sessions, case study presentations, workshops, and live Q&As.
Impact
Attendance has increased year on year and in 2024, we successfully secured attendance from 144 nurses, and received outstanding feedback:
• 99% of attendees would recommend the event to a colleague
• 99% agreed that the content was relevant to their clinical practice
• 98% would like to participate in the next ESN360 Academy event
Planning for the 2025 event, taking place in Birmingham, is currently underway.