AN APPEAL is underway to get a dedicated epilepsy nurse for Salisbury to help the hundreds of people in the city who live with the condition.

It is estimated that up to 900 people in Salisbury and many more in the surrounding area have epilepsy but currently patients must travel to Southampton to see a specialist who can answer their questions.

Now the Salisbury branch of Epilepsy Action has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and press for a dedicated epilepsy nurse.

“At the moment it’s very hard for people,” said Georgie Brazier, 22, who is on the committee of Salisbury Epilepsy Action.

“You are pretty much given the diagnosis from your GP, given a prescription and told to get on with it.

“What we want to have is someone who can answer our questions, give advice, come and give talks and who understands what people with epilepsy are going through.

“It seems awful that somewhere the size of Salisbury doesn’t have this service when lots of other places do.”

Charitable funding is available to help recruit and pay for the nurses initially and then the NHS is asked to take over the cost.

However it is up to local branches to prove there is a demand for the service.

“I know there is a need because at the moment so many people are ringing me just to talk,” said Ms Brazier.

“They want to talk about their experiences. There are a lot of people who have much more serious epilepsy than me and it does have an impact on your daily life.

“We’re hoping to put pressure on the NHS to provide an epilepsy nurse in Salisbury because we feel it’s something very badly needed.”

The Salisbury branch of Epilepsy Action meets at St Thomas’s House opposite St Thomas’s Church on the second Wednesday of every month between 6.15 and 8.15pm.

The group has expert speakers, information about conferences and seminars and arranges fundraising events in addition to giving people with epilepsy the chance to talk and share their experiences.

For more information visit www.epilepsy.org.uk.