Neurology

Neurology deals with diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.

The most common problems we diagnose and treat are epilepsy, migraine and other headache disorders, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease. We are based mostly in the outpatient department, but will see inpatients on the wards at the request of other consultants. Occasionally we have to transfer an inpatient to Southampton for further care and tests, and we also work at Southampton hospital for part of the week.

Neurologists that visit St Mary's Hospital from Southampton include Dr Manson, Dr Furby and Dr Pengas. We provide outpatient clinics in general neurology on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We each have specialist interests within neurology and may therefore be asked to see patients with certain conditions based on our specialist expertise. Dr Manson has a specialist interest in Parkinson's Disease and movement disorders, Dr Furby has a specialist interest in multiple sclerosis and Dr Pengas has a specialist interest in cognitive disorders.

We will sometimes order investigations for patients after seeing them in clinic. These include tests done at St Marys Hospital (MRI and CT scanning, blood tests) and others which are done in Southampton (nerve conduction studies, EMG, EEG and lumbar punctures).

If we feel that an operation is the best way to treat your condition, we may refer you to the neurosurgery department in Southampton.

We have neurology specialist nurses based at St Mary's Hospital. Elaine Morey is the specialist nurse for Multiple Sclerosis and Louise Long is the specialist nurse for Parkinson's Disease. 

Patients are seen by request of another consultant for specialist advice, usually on the same day.  Patients with neurological conditions are sometimes admitted directly to or transferred to the Wessex Neurological Centre in Southampton for investigation and management on the neurology ward there.