About our neurology service

We diagnose and treat conditions of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nervous system or muscles in adults (aged 16 years old or more). These are common: about one in six people in the UK have a neurological condition.

We see most of our patients in the outpatient department. When patients with neurological problems are admitted, we see them on the ward.

We also work closely with other neurology services across our regional network to ensure you have access to the expertise and testing that you need.

Conditions we treat

There are hundreds of neurological conditions, some like headache more common and some much rarer.

Examples are:

  • epilepsy
  • headaches
  • multiple sclerosis
  • motor neuron disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • nerve problems such as polyneuropathies, or cerebral palsy in adults.

How to prepare for your visit

Try to arrive a little early for your appointment so you have time to find the correct waiting room. This lets things run on time. If you will need a translator, one can be provided.

In the clinic room, very often the neurologist will rely on the story you tell about your symptoms to diagnose you. It is worth thinking through:

  • How and when your symptoms started,
  • How the symptoms changed and when,
  • How these affect you,
  • What you have done so far to improve things, and
  • What you are worried about.

The neurologist will generally examine you in clinic, testing the cranial nerves (including eye movements) and your strength, reflexes and sensation. If you would like a chaperone to be present, one will be provided.

If you have been referred for a seizure, or an episode of loss of consciousness, try to bring the witness with you, or have them available on the phone. If you have a video recording of the episode that will help your neurologist with the diagnosis.

For many types of headache, Parkinson’s disease and some other conditions, further tests are not normally required. If a test is required, your neurologist will explain what that is and when it is likely to happen. They will normally write to you with the result, or explain what it means at the next appointment.

Some patients need further appointments, known as “follow-up” if there is uncertainty about the diagnosis or if treatment needs to be monitored long-term. Not all patients need further appointments and if you are discharged, the neurologist is normally happy to see you again if anything changes.

Where to find us

In-person clinics are held in Main Outpatients

Clinic 1: Floor 0

Clinic 6: Floor 1

Clinic 8: Floor 2

Most scans and blood tests will be undertaken at the North Mid, but you may need to travel to either the Royal Free Hospital or the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square, for more specialist tests.

Refer a patient

Please make use of the Advice & Guidance service.

Prior to making an outpatient referral, please consider relevant local guidelines, such as the NCL Headache Pathway. On the rare occasion when we need to redirect or reject a referral, we will normally write to you and the patient to explain why and offer any relevant advice.

If we may need to review external imaging, please let us know where and when this was done so we may request the images.

Please let us know if a translator may be required.

Meet our team

  • Dr Gary Hotton, Clinical Lead and Consultant Neurologist with special interest in Neuro-oncology
  • Dr John Bowler, Consultant Neurologist
  • Dr Richard Perry, Consultant Neurologist with special interest in Stroke
  • Dr Sanjeev Rajakulendran, Consultant Neurologist with special interest in Epilepsy
  • Dr Graziella Quattrocchi, Consultant Neurologist with special interest in Stroke
  • Dr Tim Yates, Consultant Neurologist with special interest in Headache
  • Ella Desa, Patient Pathway Coordinator
  • Carol Boyaram, Patient Pathway Coordinator
  • Kimberly Ellis, Service Manager for Specialist Medicine
  • Danielle White, Deputy Service Manager for Specialist Medicine