Children's neurology

About

Our children's neurology service provides care for newborns, infants, children and teenagers with complex neurological conditions (genetic, congenital and acquired).

We provide inpatient consultation and outpatient care to children who are referred by their paediatrician or by another specialist to us with a range of childhood neurological disorders.

We also offer opinion to paediatricians in relation to acquired neurological problems, suspected neuromuscular disease, unexplained moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disability and complex headache syndromes.

Neurological disorders seen include:

• complex epilepsies (other than febrile seizures)
• refractory seizure disorders
• demyelinating disorders
• headache disorders that have not responded to first or second line prophylactic agents
• neuroprogressive conditions
• tics and movement disorders
• neonatal encephalopathy
• neonatal seizures

We run sub-specialist clinics such as fetal medicine clinics, combined headache clinics (joint adult and paediatric neurology input) and combined neuro-HIV clinics.

Additional information

Clinical trials and research

At times there may be trials or research going on and you may be invited to take part in these, for example a trial of certain medicines in some types of epilepsy. You will be given information relevant to these at the time and it is completely voluntary.

Further online resources

• Epilepsy action
• Epilepsy Society: Epilepsy research, information and support 
• Young Epilepsy: Charity for Children and Young People with epilepsy 
• Contact a Family 

Clinics

Our children's neurology service holds clinics at Hammersmith and St Mary's hospitals.

Children's neurology clinic at Hammersmith Hospital

Address

Children's outpatients
Ground floor
Block D
David Harvey unit
Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital
Du Cane Road
London W12 0HS

Hours

• Thursday afternoons
• Friday mornings and afternoons

Contact information

Phone: 020 3313 4727

Children's neurology clinic at St Mary’s Hospital

Address

Children's outpatients
Sixth floor
Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) building
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY

Please note: The Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) building can be accessed via South Wharf Road. 

Hours

• Monday mornings
• Tuesday mornings and afternoons
• Wednesday mornings

Contact information

Phone: 020 3312 6218

Meet the team

Our children's neurology service is managed by a team of consultants and a clinical nurse specialist.

Consultant paediatric neurologists

Dr Nigel Basheer
Dr Sushil Beri
Dr Nattanit Gregoris
Dr Leena Mewasingh

Paediatric epilepsy clinical nurse specialist

Karen Buonaiuto  

Patient information

Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your child's neurology appointment.

Before your appointment

Parents/caregivers are welcome to attend the appointment.

Please remember to bring your child’s ‘red book’ and check your appointment letter for anything specific you have been asked to take with you. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following: 

• your full address and telephone number(s)
• your appointment card and appointment letter
• your GP’s name and address
• a list of questions you may want to ask your consultant

Also if you have videos of any episodes that are of concern to you or that may be the reason for referral please bring these.

During your appointment

Your first appointment will take approximately 45 minutes or so and follow-up reviews will last for approximately 20 minutes.

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.

As parent or carer you will be asked questions by the consultant about your child including their general health, immunisations, schooling or development. If your child is old enough to answer some questions he or she may also be asked about the problem that has led to the consultation.

This is followed by a clinical examination of your child. The consultant will then discuss the findings and explain any plans or tests to be carried out.

After your child's been seen, the doctor may decide to do some investigations such as blood tests or an EEG test of 'electrical brain activity' or a brain scan.

After your appointment

You will receive a letter following the consultation, at times the results may be in the letter if they are available. 

For other tests or results you may be asked to inform us after the scan is done or we will discuss the results at the next follow-up appointment.

Referrals

Find out how to refer patients to our children's neurology service.

Given the high volume of complex requests, all referrals must come from a consultant paediatrician, who will have joint care of the child or young person. Requests at the present time cannot be accepted solely from primary care.

Secondary care

NHS referrals should be sent to:

Paediatric neurology
The Bays building
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY

Phone: 020 3312 6953