Print PageMinister Reilly Opens New State-Of-The-Art Epilepsy Monitoring Unit In Beaumont Hospital
Friday February 07, 2014
MINISTER REILLY OPENS NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART EPILEPSY MONITORING UNIT IN BEAUMONT HOSPITAL
Care will be delivered by expanded Multi Disciplinary Team
New Unit supported by over €700,000 capital investment in state of the art equipment
Dr. James Reilly TD, Minister for Health today (Friday, 7th February 2014) officially opened the new state-of-the-art 4 bed epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) at Beaumont Hospital.
The investment in human resources and capital by the HSE National Clinical Care Programme for Epilepsy allows Beaumont to deliver care for epilepsy sufferers using highly experienced neurologists and neurophysiologists who specialise in the treatment of epilepsy, together with specialised epilepsy monitoring unit nurses and neurophysiological scientists, supported with the most modern equipment to the highest of international standards.
It is estimated that there are currently 37,000 people in Ireland living with epilepsy. The new unit, located in the neurology ward at Beaumont Hospital, is a specialised unit for diagnosing and monitoring patients with seizures. It is expected that the up to 200 patients per year will benefit from this excellent resource.
Patients admitted to the EMU are investigated by continuous EEG and video monitoring on a 24 hour basis. Patient monitoring typically requires 5 to 8 days. The EMU will also allow for detailed assessment of the most complex cases, reducing the need to refer patients who may need invasive EEG monitoring to travel abroad, increasing the quality of service provision by Beaumont Hospital.
Speaking at the opening, Dr. James Reilly TD, Minister for Health said: “This facility will deliver better access to expert care and information for patients. It will improve the quality of care from prevention and monitoring to complex surgical care for difficult epilepsy. The opening of this Unit is also part of our drive to improve value conscious care by shifting care where possible from expensive hospital based care to primary care. Patients will benefit from a higher quality service in Beaumont as well as allowing them to be assessed and treated nearer to home and to their families”.
Prof. Norman Delanty, Consultant Neurologist at Beaumont Hospital said: “As the National Centre for Epilepsy in Ireland, the development of the new Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Beaumont Hospital represents a significant step forward in the quality of care and treatment in which we can provide to those living with the condition.
“Operating in a facility that is of international standard, clinicians will be able to make decisions that will lead to improved seizure control and improved quality of life for many patients, their families and carers. The unit also has a rapid access service for patients presenting to the Emergency Department with a first time seizures, which will alleviate demands in ED.”
In parallel with the official opening of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, Beaumont Hospital is also transforming the way in which remote care is delivered to those suffering with epilepsy in Ireland.
Prof. Norman Delanty added: “The recruitment of additional Advanced Nurse Practitioners will allow each ANP to be assigned to a population region, which will result in every patient suffering from epilepsy having access to a named Advanced Nurse Practitioner. This combined with establishment of the Epilepsy Electronic Patient Record system, a major advance in the management of epilepsy care, will ensure that patients no longer need to travel to Beaumont to access specialist advice they require, allowing a quality service to be delivered remotely.”