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, Graeme Mackenzie, Kathleen White, Esther Sammler, and Miratul Muqit (7.6 WTE)
Speciality doctors: Janice Heath (headache) and Laura Jarvis (sexual health in MS)
GPwSI: Donald Sloan (MS)
Registrars: Odeh Smeirat, Mounika Yelisetti, Maria Pantelidiou, and Jamuir Rahman
Specialist Nurses: Carolyn Webber, Gillian Craig, and Fiona Blackhall (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 Neuroharmacist: 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
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
• 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
• Dizziness in the absence of associated neurology
• Thunderclap headaches (unless recurrent) - should be directed to AMU

• 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. Please note this email address is only for use within the NHS and is not for patient use (patients should contact the consultant’s secretary)

Tayside Formulary/Neurology