The Epilepsy in Pregnancy Clinic, based within the Antenatal Clinic at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, brings together maternity and epilepsy specialists to ensure women receive coordinated care and support throughout their pregnancy.
Held once a month, the clinic forms part of DBTH’s Maternal Care Bundle and aims to improve communication between services, strengthen care coordination and support safer, more coordinated care for women and their babies.
The service works closely with the Epilepsy Specialist Nursing Service at Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), enabling women to benefit from specialist multidisciplinary expertise throughout their pregnancy.
Lois Mellor, Director of Midwifery at DBTH, said: “We’re delighted to launch our new Epilepsy in Pregnancy Clinic, which will provide women with epilepsy with dedicated specialist support throughout their pregnancy.
“Pregnancy can bring additional considerations for women living with epilepsy, so it is important that maternity and epilepsy specialists work closely together to provide care that is coordinated around each woman’s individual needs.
“By bringing this expertise together, we hope to make the pregnancy journey as safe and supported as possible, while giving women and their families confidence in the care they receive.”
Beverly Garside, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse at RDaSH, said: “The Epilepsy Nursing Service is pleased to be able to support this new joint clinic to provide timely and quality care for women with Epilepsy alongside our maternity colleagues.
“Undertaking a joint clinic not only enables us to be involved in the care of pregnant women throughout pregnancy, increasing medication as needed in a safe and timely manner, but also being able to support them post-delivery with medication changes, offer safety advice and follow up for at least 12 months after delivery.”
The clinic will provide a more joined-up approach between maternity and epilepsy services, helping women access the right specialist advice and support at the right time.
Pregnant women with epilepsy can be referred by their healthcare professional to the Maternal Medicine Team, led by Consultant Obstetrician Dr Daksha Bhobe and Maternal Medicine Specialist Midwife Jane Webb. Following referral, an appointment will be arranged with the Epilepsy in Pregnancy Clinic.
