Dorset Epilepsy Service
The Dorset Epilepsy Service team: (L-R) Consultant Neurologist Rupert Page, Epilepsy Specialist Nurses Michelle Knight and Aideen Tarpey, PA Vivien Littlewood
The Dorset Epilepsy Service is a county-wide service which aims to provide support and education for people in the county who have epilepsy – estimated to be up to 7,500 people.
The service provides clinics across the county, including ‘first seizure’ clinics for the 375 people newly diagnosed with epilepsy locally each year. The service also includes a telephone advice line for patients, carers and health professionals – 01202 442231 or 01202 448486.
Care is provided by a team of expert staff, including a consultant neurologist and two specialist epilepsy nurses. The team are based at Poole Hospital but work across the county to provide support in clinics and community settings. They also work closely with GPs and community-based teams to ensure adequate support for the long-term care of people with epilepsy.
About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition in the world and affects 456,000 people in the UK, of all ages and from all walks of life. It is estimated that 70% of the population with epilepsy in the UK could be seizure free with optimal treatment – currently, that figure is nearer to 50%. 1,000 people in the UK die every year of epilepsy related causes and it is thought that 400 of those deaths per year are avoidable.
Click here to read about one Dorset resident's experiences of living with epilepsy
Contact Us
To contact the Dorset Epilepsy Service, call the helpline on:
01202 442231 or 01202 448486