Neurology

• The department of Neurology is based in Ninewells Hospital.
• We have clinics in general neurology and specialist clinics in epilepsy, headache, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and behavioural sleep medicine. Our main clinical activities are based in Ninewells Hospital with peripheral clinics in Arbroath Infirmary and Perth Royal Infirmary.
• We have a 12 bedded ward (ward 23a) in Ninewells for investigation and management of primary neurological conditions.
• We are the Scottish centre for ultrasound thalamotomy as a novel treatment for essential tremor.

Consultants: Briony Waddell (Clinical Lead), Ian Morrison, Gillian Stewart, Uwe Spelmeyer, Evie Rooke, Tom Gilbertson, Jonathan O’Rriordan, Dinita Devchand, Esther Sammler, and Miratul Muqit (6.8 WTE)
Registrars: Graeme Mackenzie, John Centelo, Odeh Smeirat, Joseph Geoghegan, Mounika Yelisetti
Specialist Nurses: Carolyn Webber and Gillian Craig (MND); Christine Whatley, Laura McEwan, and Rose Perera (MS); Rachel Morrison (advanced MS); Pauline Smith, Charlene Campbell, and Hayley Wilson (epilepsy); Shirley Grant (dystonia); Emily Tenbruck (Parkinson’s); Claire Barty (headache)
Specialist Pharmacist: Arlene Coulson

Emergency referrals via on-call neurology registrar

• Rapid onset or worsening neurological symptoms / function
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension with visual disturbance
• Urgent advice regarding MS relapse or worsening seizures (if not urgent, please contact specialist nurses)
• Bulbar and respiratory symptoms where a neurological cause is likely

* Please note we do not admit directly to the Neurology Ward, other than in specific situations (e.g known neurological condition in terminal stages or recent discharge from Neurology Ward).

Outpatient Referrals 

• Urgent referrals are restricted for those with worsening neurological symptoms and function.
• We receive a number of requests to expedite appointments. We appreciate the reasons for this, however we are unable to prioritise a patient over another without objective evidence of worsening neurology,
  
• Further referral guidance is available for a range of specific conditions via the blue tabs at the foot of this page. 

• Primary pain syndromes (please see Pain services RefGuide)
• We are unable to accept referrals for patients where pain is the dominant, functionally limiting symptom. This includes back and neck pain. 
• Referrals without medical assessment. 
• Syncope
• Entrapment syndromes (carpal tunnel, ulnar neuropathy etc): please refer directly to the hand clinic
• Fluctuating sensory symptoms (please see NHS Scotland 'Benign Sensory Symptoms' information sheet)
• Primary fatigue related symptoms
• Brain tumours
• Thunderclap headaches (unless recurrent) - should be directed to AMU
• Dyspraxia/dyslexia assessment
• Please also see individual tabs for further information (e.g. we are unable to accept referrals for patients with sensory neuropathies, dizziness in the absence of associated neurology, post-concussion syndrome, untreated migraine etc).

• Emergency: Monday to Friday 9-5pm via pager 4968; out of hours via switchboard
• Urgent/routine new out-patient referrals: via SCI Gateway/Neurology
• Advice: Generic advice only – via SCI Gateway (if particular clinician contact directly) 
• Patients already under specialist nurses (MS, epilepsy, Parkinsons, MND). Patients should be encouraged to make contact directly with their nurse specialists in the 1st instance if their question relates to ongoing management of their condition (please see condition specific pages for contact details)
• If known to a clinician or specialist nurse, please contact directly to discuss
• Advice requests may take up to 5 days to reply. If advice is time critical, please e-mail tay.neurologyadvice@nhs.scot or via emergency referral as above.

Tayside Formulary/Neurology