Helen Hordle - KHPeople

What is your role?

I am one of three epilepsy nurse specialists working in the Neuroscience department at King’s College Hospital NHS FT. We also have a healthcare assistant working alongside us.

Our role is to support patients to manage complex epilepsy, striving for seizure freedom or for the best possible control so people can live life to the fullest. We work alongside neurologists - advising on lifestyle, safety, and medication management. I completed my prescribing qualification last June and now prescribe epilepsy medication as part of my role. 

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I am so fortunate to work in an area that I feel so passionately about and within such a wonderful, supportive epilepsy team. We bounce ideas off each other and are constantly tapping into each other’s particular areas of expertise. I enjoy the variety of my role, the difference that every day brings, and working with so many other healthcare professionals.

We look after a very diverse patient cohort with ages ranging from 16 to those in their 90s, people who have learning disabilities, pregnant ladies, people who have epilepsy as a result of trauma or tumour, as well as young people transitioning to adult care.

I have a particular interest in managing epilepsy in pregnancy, there are so many things to consider. Pregnancy can be a worrying time, but for those with epilepsy it is a particularly anxious time requiring thought and sensitivity. Medication management is more challenging to ensure both the safety of our pregnant patient and the foetus.

I also particularly enjoy passing knowledge on to others. We provide epilepsy awareness training for other nurses and often have nurses/pharmacy students in clinic with us.

What inspired you to get into this work? 

My neurology experience as a student nurse was probably the highlight of my training and when I started to develop an interest in neurology. After I had my children, I worked in residential specialist schools and colleges for many years, caring for young people with complex needs, many of whom had epilepsy.

During this time I worked alongside Epilepsy Nurse Specialists and could see the difference that the role brought in helping to manage epilepsy. It was evident how much families appreciated and benefitted from the support and advice they received from their nurses. 

What are the benefits of working in partnership?

I enjoy the fact that we work closely alongside so many other health care professionals, both at King’s College Hospital NHS FT and in the community.

We are in constant communication with midwives, neurologists, neuro-oncologists, learning disability teams, care providers, and GPs. This is a tremendous bonus to our role as we are constantly learning from each other and benefitting from each other’s expertise in our daily work. Patients benefit hugely from this joined up working. 

Patients and their families are the experts in their condition. Epilepsy is so individual in how it presents and impacts so it is important to listen and work together to manage their condition. 

What would be your one career top tip?

My one career top tip would be to keep learning in whatever role you are doing. Learning is stimulating, keeps you motivated, and ensures we continue to provide the best possible and up to date advice and treatment for those in our care.

Find out more about the work of KHP Neurosciences.