Neurologists at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) are all specialists in one or more branches of neurology. Where possible a patient will be directed to a specialist clinic.
Patients with symptoms that could be caused by a number of different subspecialties may need to be evaluated in a general neurology clinic first.
Headache
| Subspecialty | Notes |
|---|
| Complex headache |
- Suspected raised intracranial pressure, meningitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage should go to the Emergency Department
- First line diagnosis and management of migraine should be in primary care
- Suspected or proven brain tumours are dealt with via a dedicated pathway, not Neurology
|
Blackouts or funny turns
| Subspecialty | Notes |
|---|
|
|
- Syncope (fainting) is managed by cardiology in most cases
- Wherever possible, patients have a witness of one or more attacks present with them or available on the phone, this is often how the diagnosis is made
|
Tremors or abnormal movements
| Subspecialty | Notes |
|---|
- Movement disorders
- Botox clinic
|
Please refer to the Geriatric Team if:
- Aged over 75
- Aged 75 or under with:
- Frailty marker (e.g. falls, immobility, delirium or incontinence)
- Cognitive presentation
- Dependence on carer support or a care home resident
|
Weakness and/or numbness and/or tingling
| Subspecialty | Notes |
|---|
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuroinflammation and myasthenia gravis
- Peripheral neuropathy (inflammatory and hereditary)
- Motor neurone disease
- Muscle disease
|
- Suspected stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA, mini stroke) is not dealt with by Neurology
- It is very rare to have MS with a normal brain scan, where there is no abnormality on clinical examination, a brain scan may be a better option than a Neurology appointment
- You cannot refer directly to the majority of these clinics from primary care, in most cases investigations and assessment in general Neurology clinic will be needed prior to referral
|
Neurorehabilitation issues
| Subspecialty | Notes |
|---|
| Complex neurorehab |
In the majority of cases neurorehabilitation can be provided by community teams or by Moseley Hall Hospital or the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre |
Head injury
| Subspecialty | Notes |
|---|
| Brain injury clinic |
- Acute severe head injury should go to the Emergency Department
- 70% or patients with concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) will recover within three months without specialist intervention
- Patients with historic brain injuries and complex rehab needs may need complex neuro-rehab rather than the head injury clinic
- Patients requiring reconstructive surgery need to be referred to neurosurgery
|
Last reviewed: 11 July 2023