Epilepsy Clinic

The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form.  This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date.  If you receive this SMS, please update your details.

ConditionsConditions

There is no condition information for this clinic

Assessment and management of complex and refractory epilepsy

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Scope

THS Southern Region

For chronic and drug-resistant epilepsy.

Most first seizures and routine epilepsy cases are seen in the general Neurology Clinic.


THS Northern Region

Epilepsy is seen in Neurology Clinics.


THS North West Region

North West runs an Epilepsy Clinic once a fortnight either face to face or Tele health.

Emergency conditions

Emergency conditions/symptoms include (not an exhaustive list), proceed to Emergency Department:

  • Status epilepticus; single prolonged seizure (>five minutes) or recurrent seizures without regaining consciousness between seizures
  • Epileptic patient vomiting or too unwell to take medication
  • Epilepsy with significant fever

Urgent conditions/symptoms include:

  • Persistent severe postictal headache
  • Worsening of postictal mental state
  • Pregnancy

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call, as per below.

Referral process

A referral (preferably faxed) is required for all new appointments and must conform to the Referral Standards as outlined on For Clinicians.

Please ask witness to co-attend or be reachable by telephone.

Referral history should include:

  • Reason for referral: the complexity, chronicity, uncontrolled seizures, change in pattern
  • Medications currently taking
  • Medications previously tried, their doses and reason for stopping
  • Witness description of events (and asking a witness to co-attend or be reachable by telephone)
  • It is preferable the patient and significant others keep a seizure diary.

Provide:

  • CT scan or MRI if indicated e.g. focal deficit postictally, persistent altered mental state postictally, fever, recent trauma, persistent severe headache
  • Drug levels if pregnant, on contraceptive pill and lamotrigine, intermittent compliance is suspected, toxicity is suspect or the patient is on phenytoin (in general, levels outside parameters have limited role in management).
  • A request for an EEG (fax 6173 0292) if the patient has not had one before, events are frequent, their nature is uncertain, it is many years since they have had one or they are seizure free for 10 years and seek a commercial driver's licence.

All referrals are triaged and allocated according to clinical guidelines as urgent or non-urgent. A written referral stated urgent does not guarantee urgent attention.

Clinic Appointments – Appointments are based on clinical priority:

Emergency

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent / category 1

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call, as per below:

If you would like to discuss a patient for advice or you feel they need earlier review  please either:

  • Fax a complete Neurology Advice Request Form: the patient's treating Neurologist, Neurology Registrar or on-call Neurologist will contact you by phone within one to two days
  • Contact the Neurology Registrar directly within hours via the RHH switchboard Phone: (03) 6166 8308

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Routine / category 3

Next available appointment

Referral template

For use by health professionals only

Additional information

Direct link to Health Pathways Epilepsy in Adults page

Epilepsy and Driving

Most patients with epilepsy don't require specialist review for assessment of fitness to drive, and most assessments can be completed by a general practitioner.

The guidelines are clear and are available in Assessing Fitness to Drive, 4th edition, produced by Austroads. This is available on the internet at www.austroads.com.au.

Specialist assessment is typically required for initial assessment for a commercial license, or when exceptional circumstances apply (i.e. if patient's condition or circumstances are not specifically covered by guidelines, or there is doubt about the patient's fitness to drive

RHH Neurophysiology, including EEG Referral template

For use by health professionals only

Other Links