Epilepsy Neuromodulation Clinic
Patient information
What we do
The aim of the clinic is to provide specialised care for people with epilepsy who are considering or receiving vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) or deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapies. VNS and DBS are examples of what we call "neuromodulation therapies", hence the name of the clinic.
The main services we provide are:
- Evaluation of people with epilepsy who are considering neuromodulation therapies (VNS or DBS)
- Post-operative programming of VNS and DBS devices
- Optimisation, troubleshooting, and long-term follow-up for VNS and DBS therapies
The clinic does not replace your usual neurologist or epilepsy specialist, who will continue to see you as normal, and will manage your medication and general epilepsy care.
Who we care for
We care for people with epilepsy who are considering or already receiving vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) or deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapies.
What to expect
Visits to the epilepsy neuromodulation clinic are just like your regular outpatient visits, and may be carried out over Telehealth or face-to-face. The only exception is that if you have a VNS or DBS device, and if it requires a device check or a change in settings, then the visit must be face-to-face to allow this.
Commonly asked questions
Yes, please keep all appointments with your regular neurologist or epilepsy specialist. If your regular visits are also at the Alfred, then these appointments can both be made on the same day (ie, Friday afternoons).
No, we do not. These should be managed by your regular neurologist, epilepsy specialist, or GP.
Generally no, unless you would like us to check it or show you how to use it. The exception is your DBS patient controller/communicator, as this can be useful in some clinic visits - please try to bring this with you.
Yes. While not essential, it is highly recommended and helps us make your assessment and treatment more efficient. If you do not maintain a diary, or your seizures are too frequent to record all of, please think about and record an estimate of your recent seizure activity prior to attending your appointment so that we can discuss these details with you.
How to access this clinic
Referral from your GP
Please attend your local GP and obtain a referral as follows:
Request an "indefinite" referral to Dr Hugh Simpson, Epilepsy Neuromodulation Clinic, The Alfred, 55 Commercial Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004.
This referral needs to be received prior to your next appointment or unfortunately we cannot book the follow up in. A current referral is required for all clinic appointments. If not received your appointment may be delayed and you might be transferred to another treating clinic for follow up care.
Please ask your GP to fax to (03) 9076 7864 or email to epilepsy@alfred.org.au.
What to bring
For a clinic appointment
On the day of your first appointment:
- Your referral letter from your GP
- Your Medicare card
- EEG reports, MRI brain scans, and other test reports/results (if external)
- Any other relevant specialist letters or medical records or reports that you have
To all appointments:
- A seizure diary or other record of your recent seizures
- A list of your medicines (or your actual medicines in a bag)
Bringing the above may save us and you considerable time and even reduce the number of visits necessary.
You are welcome to bring a support person (a relative, friend or carer) with you. If this is your first visit, or have difficulty remembering or describing your seizures or medicines, it is helpful to bring someone with you who is familiar with these details.
Clinic times
| Day | Campus | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | The Alfred | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
Clinic consultants
- Dr Hugh Simpson: Neurology / Epilepsy / DBS
- Dr Haris Hakeem: Neurology / Epilepsy
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