Neurology in Dorchester

Your nervous system is an incredibly complex system, comprising the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses (signals) around the body to generate a specific response.

If anything prevents your nervous system from functioning properly, it can have a significant impact on any part of your body, affecting your overall health and quality of life.

A Consultant Neurologist specialises in investigating, diagnosing, and treating problems in the nervous system. The highly experienced Consultant Neurologists at The Winterbourne Hospital in Dorchester, Dorset, treat a wide range of neurological conditions and symptoms in people added 18+. They would be delighted to help you too. 

Your nervous system extends to, and affects, every part of your body. Because of its complexity and reach, symptoms of a neurological condition can be varied and may occur anywhere in the body.

Common reasons people visit our Consultant Neurologists for help include:

• Headaches and facial pain
• Migraines - more common in women
• Dizziness / unsteadiness and vertigo
• Sensory symptoms such as numbness or tingling
• Weakness in any part of the body
• Falls
• Loss of consciousness – fainting episodes or fits / epileptic seizures
• Increased forgetfulness or other cognitive problems
• Abnormal movement, such as tremors or slowing down
• Change in sense of taste and / or smell
• Bladder and / or bowel problems

If you have any of these symptoms, it is sensible to seek medical guidance. Your GP may be your first point of contact, and they may refer you to a Consultant Neurologist for further assessment and treatment.

Due to the complex nature of the nervous system, many of the conditions that affect it will cause similar symptoms. This makes it crucial to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible, so that any treatment you have is optimised for your specific condition.

Some of the long-term and serious conditions that affect the nervous system include:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – a lifelong condition with no cure, although certain treatments may help to reduce relapses and disability, and help to manage symptoms
• Parkinson’s Disease – a brain disorder that causes symptoms like shaking and stiffness
• Epilepsy – seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain
• Dementia – a broad term used to describe a decline in brain functioning that affects your work or social interactions  
• Motor Neurone Disease – when the motor nerve cells stop working, symptoms like slurred speech and muscle weakness occur 

Many of these conditions will get progressively worse over time. By getting a diagnosis at the earliest possible stage, treatment can be started sooner, and any appropriate additional support arranged. 

For any neurological complaint, an accurate diagnosis is key to formulating the best possible treatment plan.

When you first meet with your Consultant at The Winterbourne Hospital, they will take a medical history and will ask you in detail about your symptoms. They will want to know things like:

• What symptoms you have
• When these symptoms first appeared / became noticeable
• Whether your symptoms have been getting worse over time
• How your symptoms are affecting daily life
• Whether your symptoms are stopping you from doing certain activities
• Whether you have received any treatment already, such as prescribed medication, or have a treatment plan in place already 

They may carry out a physical examination.

Your medical history, symptoms and physical examination will help inform the choice of any additional investigations required. These may include:

• MRI of spine and/or brain
• Neurophysiology test – electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction test (NCS) – tests for nerve damage in the peripheral nerves (those outside your brain and spinal cord)
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) – measures electrical activity in the brain. This can be helpful when investigating epilepsy
• Blood tests

While some of these tests and investigations can be arranged and carried out at The Winterbourne Hospital, others may be carried out off-site. Your Consultant will arrange any tests needed for you.

Once any results are back, you will meet with your Consultant to talk through the results and diagnosis, and to explore all suitable treatment options. You will always be given the information you need to make an informed choice about treatment, and if you have any questions or concerns, your Consultant will be very happy to talk through them with you during your private appointment.

Due to the complexity of the neurological system, your Consultant works extremely closely with specialists in other fields like ophthalmology, ENT, cardiology, neurosurgery, neurophysiology, spinal surgery, and radiology. If referral to another specialist is needed, this is easily and quickly arranged to ensure you always receive assessment and treatment from the most appropriate specialist.

Some specialities are based regionally, so you may be referred off-site. This may involve travelling to Poole, Taunton, Southampton, or Bristol, and your Consultant will discuss this with you if external referral is required.

Many people are referred to a Consultant Neurologist at The Winterbourne Hospital by their GP, another healthcare professional or their private medical insurance provider. Others choose to self-refer in order to get clarity sooner about what’s causing their symptoms.

When you choose The Winterbourne Hospital, you will benefit from:

Rapid access to expert assessment
Many neurological symptoms can be quite concerning to experience. With increased pressures on the NHS, waiting times have been (and continue) to increase. Rather than having to wait many weeks (or months) to get an appointment, we can arrange a private appointment for you at a much earlier date, with an experienced Consultant Neurologist.

Personalised care
Given the complexity of the nervous system, any investigations and treatments need to be tailored to your specific symptoms and whatever may be best for you. Care is always consultant-led, and your Consultant will oversee all investigations and treatments.

Close collaboration
Effective treatment for a neurological condition involves close collaboration between you and your Consultant. Regular follow-up and monitoring or your symptoms means that treatment can be adjusted quickly and easily if needed, to ensure you continue to receive the greatest relief of symptoms possible.

Appointments to suit you
Private Neurology appointments are available throughout the week, including evenings, making it easy to book an appointment for a time that suits you. For your convenience, we can also offer remote appointments by telephone or video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).

A whole team approach – With access to a wider team of healthcare professionals, including neurosurgeons, radiologists, neurophysiologists, spinal surgeons, and physiotherapists, you will always receive support and treatment from the most appropriate specialist.

Recommended by patients
In an independent survey, 99.1% of patients said their overall experience of our service was good, or very good.

Whether you have a pre-existing condition that is no longer being managed by your current treatment plan, or you’ve recently started experiencing new symptoms that are causing you concern, help is available.

For peace of mind and known expert care, why not book your private Neurology appointment today? We look forward to welcoming you to The Winterbourne Hospital soon and helping you to access the support you need.