Which health boards are reducing the hours of work of epilepsy specialist nurses, and by how much.

NHS boards have provided the information contained in the following table:
Is the Board Reducing the Hours of Work of Epilepsy Specialist Nurses (ESNs)?
NHS Board
|

Ayrshire and Arran
| No

Borders
| No: does not have any ESNs but works collaboratively with Lothian. A consultant neurologist holds a weekly clinic for people with complex neurological needs.

Dumfries and Galloway
| No: does not have any ESNs.

Fife
| No.

Forth Valley
| No.

Grampian
| No.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde
| No: has increased Regional ESN hours in recent years.

Highland
| No: has increased children''s ESN hours (by 0.6 WTE).

Lanarkshire
| No.

Lothian
| No.

Orkney
| No: does not have any ESNs but local general nurses have epilepsy training and link with NHS Grampian ESN to provide support to patients with epilepsy.

Shetland
| No: does not have any ESNs, but local stroke and MS specialist nurses and GPs link with NHS Grampian ESN to provide support to patients with epilepsy.

Tayside
| No.

Western Isles
| No: does not have any ESNs.

Source: NHS boards.
At the meeting of the Cross Party Group on Epilepsy on 29 April 2010, I said that I would investigate the position in Scotland in relation to ESN numbers and whether there were any cutbacks either in the actual number, or in the hours they are asked to work in this specialist capacity. All NHS boards have now confirmed that their epilepsy specialist nurses focus solely on supporting people living with epilepsy and are not expected to carry out other duties.