We are an enthusiastic team including neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychiatrists, neuropsychologists, EEG physiologists, epilepsy fellows, specialist nurses and our programme coordinator.

Other specialists across the hospital are consulted as needed. They include social workers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.

Our story

Established in the 1990's, Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme has treated over 1500 cases. We pioneered the use of sEEG in England, having performed more than 115 sEEG so far (2010-2022).

Members

• Neurologists: Dr Kasia Sieradzan (Head of the Programme); Dr Howard Faulkner; Dr Madhu Ramamoorthy; Dr Cristina Gervasi
• Neurosurgeon: Mr Angelo Pichierri; Neuroradiologist: Dr Marcus Likeman
• Neuropsychiatrist: Dr Monica Mohan; Neuropsychologist: Dr Helen Thorburn
• Neurophysiologists: Abigail Warren, Abby Parks-Galton; Claire Johnson, Eibhin Goulding
• Specialist Nurses: Helen Hodgson, Anna Davis
• Advanced Nurse Practitioners: Samantha Travis, Geraldine Watson
• Coordinator: Katie Pearce: Katie.Pearce2@nbt.nhs.uk / 0117 414 7488

Epilepsy Nurse Helpline

Only for urgent enquires or anti-epileptic medication advice: 0117 414 6456 / 07710 916 916

Making a referral (For clinicians only)

New referrals

Please contact one of our neurologists directly via email or post.

Email: Kasia.Sieradzan@nbt.nhs.uk; Howard.Faulkner@nbt.nhs.uk; Madhu.Ramamoorthi@nbt.nhs.uk

Post: Epilepsy Surgery Programme, Neurology Offices, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Southmead Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS10 5NB

Requests for VNS battery change

Please view the referral information page and follow the instructions provided.

GMC Number: 7047300

Year and location of first qualification: 2009, Manchester

Specialty: Acute Internal Medicine and Perioperative Medicine

Clinical interests: Same Day Emergency Care, care of older adults undergoing surgery or admitted following trauma, service development with acute and perioperative medicine, medical education

Secretary: Lisa Williams

Telephone number: 0117 414 1141

Professional memberships: Member of the Royal College of Physicians and Society for Acute Medicine

Dr Sarah Ibitoye has been a consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust since April 2022. In the Acute Medicine department she provides specialist medical care for patients needing admission to hospital, or requiring urgent investigation within Same Day Emergency Care. As a perioperative physician, Sarah supports surgical teams in managing older adults undergoing surgical procedures whose care may be complicated by medical conditions or frailty.

Sarah is an Advanced Life Support Instructor and regularly participates in the training of postgraduate doctors and other health professionals. 

Sarah believes in the importance of continuing development and training. She has completed a Masters in Tropical and Infectious Disease, Postgraduate award in Medical Education and is currently completing a Diploma in Perioperative Medicine.

Email address: Sarah.ibitoye@nbt.nhs.uk

What is this training?

This training session will be an introduction to pragmatically organised vocabulary. The main focus of the session will be on :

• Why Communicate?
• Why Pragmatic Vocabulary?
• Features of a Pragmatic Vocabulary

You may be very familiar with AAC, or very new. You may be using a high-tech device, or something paper-based. Either way, we think you will learn something new.

How do I access the training?

You can access the training at anytime online.  Please allow 45 minutes for the training as you will need to watch videos and complete tasks as part of the training.

1. Watch the YouTube video below

2. Download the PDF slides below

Introduction to Core & Fringe AAC Vocabularies

What is this training?

This training session will be an introduction to core and fringe vocabulary. The purpose of this training is to :

• To give an overview of what we mean by ‘core’ and ‘fringe’
• To show examples of pages with core and fringe
• To think of how to teach use of core vocabulary + give practical examples.

You may be very familiar with AAC, or very new. You may be using a high-tech device, or something paper-based. Either way, we think you will learn something new.

How do I access the training?

You can access the training at anytime online.  Please allow 45 minutes for the training as you will need to watch videos and complete tasks as part of the training.

1. Watch the YouTube video below

2. Download the PDF of the slides 

Join informal drop-in sessions for people with a cancer diagnosis, their families, and supporters.

Sessions are held in the Macmillan Wellbeing Centre:

• Every Monday 13:30-14:30. 
• Every Thursday 10:00-11:00.

At the Macmillan Wellbeing Centre:

• No Pre-booking required.
• Free parking (Letters can be provided by their clinical teams or at Macmillan Wellbeing Centre).
• Refreshments provided.

The drop-in session aims to provide information and support on a wide range of subjects, including:

• Fatigue management.
• Diet and nutrition.
• Moving more.
• Financial support.
• Emotional health and wellbeing.
• Who is involved in your care.

Cancer Information Recordings

The Cancer Information Session has been recorded and is available online below:

We routinely ask new patients attending for their assessment appointment what they hope that we can help with. We thought that it would be helpful for our staff team to look in more detail at the different aims that people have, so that we can make sure that we are able to offer people the support that they want. We routinely collect this information, so we were able to analyse these aims into different themes. This kind of data collection and analysis is known as a “service evaluation” which is an important part of developing an NHS Service. In doing this analysis, the information was anonymised and de-identified which means that it cannot be traced back to any individual.

We thought that it would be helpful to share this thematic analysis here on our website, so that patients coming to the service can find out more about what other patients wanted. We welcome this approach to setting an agenda for appointments, which supports self-management and shared decision making.

To confirm the diagnosis

This was a common aim, which we noted was often linked with wanting an explanation of the symptoms.

To learn how to manage the condition

This was the most common aim, with a clear focus on wanting support with developing self-management coping strategies.

Help with symptoms

This was a separate theme from self-management and was linked with another theme which was to have advice regarding medication.

Improving sleep

Some people wanted better quality sleep, others wanted more sleep, and others still wanted to sleep less. This makes sense to us, as some people have insomnia, others sleep for longer than they want to, and disturbed and/or unrefreshing sleep is a key element of the condition.

Work and education

This was a common theme, with many people asking for support in sustaining work or education or returning to some form of employment. Within this theme, we included aims to achieve a better work/life balance.

Physical activity

A common goal included support with physical activity and exercise. Specific physical activities such as dog walking, horse riding, walking with grandchildren, and Pilates were mentioned as well as general aims to build strength and improve physical fitness.

Support with well-being and mental health

A number of people wanted help with managing negative emotions, which had become a problem as a result of having ME/CFS, including anxiety and low mood.

Social life

This theme included increasing social activity and family life.

Increasing understanding of the condition for friends and family

This was less frequently stated as an aim, but it is an important issue which is frequently raised by patients during their care.

GDC Number: 85467

Specialty: Pathology

GMC Number: 6149447

Specialty: Care of the Elderly

GMC Number: 7088393

Specialty: Emergency Department

GMC Number: 6120402

Specialty: Renal