Neurology

Neurology is the field of medicine that investigates, diagnoses and treats problems in the nervous system, which comprises the brain, spinal cord and nerves. A doctor who specialises in this field is a Consultant Neurologist.

Your nervous system is an amazingly complex system, spread throughout the body and affecting every part of it. It is responsible for transmitting electrical signals (known as impulses) around the body in order to generate a specific response in a particular place.

If anything prevents your nervous system from working properly, whether through damage or disease, it can have a hugely detrimental effect in any part of your body, on your overall health and, ultimately, on your quality of life.

The Consultant Neurologists at Bishops Wood Hospital treat a wide range of neurological conditions and symptoms for people living in Middlesex and surrounding areas like Buckinghamshire. They would be delighted to help you too.

Your nervous system reaches into and impacts on every part of your body, no matter how big or small. This means that neurological problem can cause a wide variety of symptoms anywhere in the body.

Some of the common reasons people come to us for help include:

• Headaches and facial pain
• Migraines - these are more common in women, affecting up to 20% of the adult female population.
• Dizziness / unsteadiness and vertigo
• Sensory symptoms – such as numbness or tingling
• Weakness or loss of coordination
• Walking difficulties and unexplained falls
• Blackouts – fainting episodes or fits / epileptic seizures
• Increasing forgetfulness or confusion
• Abnormal movements – such as tremors or a general slowness
• Bladder or bowel problems

If you have any of these symptoms, whether new or longer-term, mild or more pronounced, it can be sensible to seek medical advice. The highly experienced Consultant Neurologists at Bishops Wood Hospital will investigate your symptoms to determine the cause, then work with you to create a personal treatment plan to help manage these symptoms as well as possible.

The complex nature of the nervous system means that many of the conditions that affect it will often cause similar symptoms. The benefit of getting help from a neurologist at the earliest stage is that they can use their experience to narrow down possible causes more quickly.

Some of the serious conditions that affect the nervous system include:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – this is a lifelong condition with no cure. Appropriate treatments may help to manage symptoms and reduce relapses and/or disability
• Parkinson’s Disease – a brain disorder that causes symptoms like tremors, shaking and stiffness.
• Epilepsy – abnormal electrical activity in the brain leading to seizures
• Dementia – a general term used to describe a decline in brain function that affects work or social interactions
• Motor Neurone Disease – when the motor nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS) stop working, it causes symptoms like slurred speech and muscle weakness 

Any of these conditions can be extremely challenging to live with and will often have a big impact on your life. Many of them are best treated when diagnosed at the earliest possible stage. At Bishops Wood Hospital, we can provide you with fast access to assessment and diagnosis, so that you can receive appropriate support and treatment sooner.

Planning the best treatment for a neurological condition depends on first making an accurate diagnosis.

When you first meet with your neurologist at Bishops Wood Hospital, they will take a medical history and will talk with you in detail about your symptoms. They will ask you questions like:

• What symptoms do you have?
• When did these symptoms begin / when did you first notice them?
• Have they been getting worse?
• How are your symptoms affecting or limiting you?
• Do you have a treatment plan in place already?

They will then carry out a neurological examination, which will involve systematic testing of your cranial and peripheral nerves together with a cognitive examination if appropriate

You may be referred for additional investigations, which commonly include:

• MRI of the spine and/or brain
• Neurophysiology test – electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction test (NCS) – tests for nerve damage in the peripheral nerves (these are the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord)
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) – measures the electrical activity in the brain. Useful for investigation of epilepsy
• Blood tests

We will arrange for these tests to be carried out at the earliest opportunity. While some can be done here on-site, others will be arranged for you outside the hospital.

Once any results are back, you will meet with your neurologist again to discuss the results and diagnosis and to explore treatment options. If you have any questions or concerns, you will be able to talk through them with your neurologist in a relaxed, unhurried environment.

Due to the many different ways a neurological condition can affect the body, your neurologist has a close working relationship with a number of specialists in other medical areas like neurosurgery spinal surgery, oncology and radiology. If it is found that you would benefit from referral to another specialist, we will arrange this for you to make sure that you are able to continue receiving the most appropriate treatment and support.

For example, some neurological problems will require surgery, in which case we can refer you to a neurosurgeon or a spinal surgeon. If any type of cancer is found in your brain or spinal cord, we can arrange quick referral to the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre for expert treatment.

Most people are referred to a Consultant Neurologist at Bishops Wood Hospital by their GP or private medical insurance provider. Others are concerned by their symptoms and choose to self-refer to avoid delay.

We treat private medical insurance and self-pay patients.

When you visit a Consultant Neurologist at Bishops Wood Hospital, you will benefit from:

• Fast access to expert assessment – Many of the symptoms caused by a neurological condition can be concerning to experience and you will appreciate rapid access to expert help. We can quickly and easily arrange an appointment for you with an experienced neurologist, so that your symptoms can be investigated and diagnosed sooner.
• Consultant-directed care – Treatment for a neurological condition always need to be tailored to your specific symptoms and whatever may be best for you. Your neurologist will oversee every aspect of your care and will monitor your response to treatment so that it can be adjusted if needed.
• Appointments to suit you – It is very easy to book a Neurology appointment for a time that suits you. For your convenience, we can also offer remote consultations by telephone or video call if required.
• A multidisciplinary team– With fast, easy access to a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, you will always have access to the help you need.
• Recommended by our patients – In an independent survey, 94.1% of patients said they were likely or highly likely to recommend us to family and friends.

Whether you are concerned by new symptoms or you have a pre-existing condition that has flared up and is no longer being suitably managed with your current treatment plan, we would be delighted to help you access help you need.

For peace of mind and known expert care, why not book your Neurology appointment today? We look forward to welcoming you to Bishops Wood Hospital.