Pregnancy in women with epilepsy; can we communicate better?

Lovegrove, Elizabeth and Saha, Anirban (2016) Pregnancy in women with epilepsy; can we communicate better? Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 87 (12). (doi:10.1136/jnnp-2016-315106.81).

Abstract

A recent report on UK maternal deaths suggests poor communication and documentation, not just to patients but between neurology and obstetric teams, rather than a lack of knowledge, are hindering efforts to improve the care of pregnant women with epilepsy. This study aimed to investigate this possibility by auditing the care given to such patients, with particular assessment of communication and documentation quality.

In this audit the medical and maternity records, in addition to email correspondence, of 30 patients were audited against criteria based on guidelines from The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 15 patients were known to neurology services at the time of pregnancy and 15 patients presented to the maternity department with a declared history of epilepsy. Communication and documentation quality was graded.

Results concerning the degree to which audit criteria were met, which team member met these criteria, where this was documented, along with an assessment of the quality of communication and documentation within the multidisciplinary team, will be presented. A novel ‘epilepsy care plan document’ will be created to specifically delegate roles and responsibilities for more cohesive and integrated care.

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Contributors

Author: Elizabeth Lovegrove

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