Sheffield childrens hospital or Royal Hallamshire for neurologist?

[feynman]

Hello, I am trying to get a referel to a good paediatric neurologist. I've heard lots of good things about Sheffield childrens hosptial but also know that the Royal Hallamshire hospital in Sheffield has a neurologist dept. I just wondered if anyone could recommend one over the other? (Or anywhere else?)

Basically my son in nearly 5. So far we've had asd, adhd, apd, spd, dyspraxia, sli and probably others all given as possible problems but no-one is willing to give any formal diagnosis due to his age!

Addtionally he has, what in my mind are clear issues with some neurological problems. He has a pupil that won't dilate, a deviated ulvula, he can't volutarily close his eyes and can't make happy/sad faces (with the later he understand what I mean it's a 'can't do it' rather than ' can't understand/see the relavence type thing'. Additionally he had a weakness down one side when he was little although you cannot tell now. How much these are related to/the cause of or unrelated to his other issues I don't know? I guess that's what I need answering.

He's had an mri which showed nothing out of the ordinary, but that obviously doesn't means things are functioning normally.

I just feel like I'm going round and round in circles. If I follow every bit of advice given for all the issues he 'may' have, I'd be meeting myself coming backwards. I feel like I am now.

I guess what I want is for someone to say, no the neurological stuff is not an issue, or yes it is an issue but this is what we can do about it. Or even yes it's an issue but we can't do anything about it. Any of the above would be preferable to spending everyday wondering if I could be doing something more/better/different.

Up to now I've thrown everything I have at trying to help him and I'm realising I will not be able to keep this up for long. I need to focus on less things but choose those most likely to make a difference, but I can't evaluate what they are as I feel like I'm groping in the dark.

He does have a statement at school, and has a private ot invlovement and speech therapy at school, so he has some support, I just feel like I'm going out of my mind.

Anyway if has any opinion about the above hospitals I'd be grateful to know. Or if anyone could recommend a really good paediatric neurologist I'd be very grateful. Either through the nhs or privately, I don't mind. We live in Yorkshire but I will travel anywhere.

Thank-you for your help

Hi, I think you may find that the Neurologists at RHH wont see him and will refer him to The Children's Hospital as The Children's take all referrals for under 16yr. I would think though that the neurology dept at The Children's would be pretty good. They won't diagnose Aspergers/ADHD or other developmental disorders as that would be done by the Developmental Paediatricians at Rygate which is the Children's developmental centre in Sheffield. May be worth exploring a referral there as they do offer thorough assessments where there is the possibility of a developmental disorder(but not neurological specifically) but I think they will only accept referrals if you live in Sheffield so depends where you are exactly.
Hope you manage to get some answers.

Hi,

As milkshake says the hallmshire is an adult only hospital so should you seek a referral you would be seen at Ryegate, they offer second opinions from out of area, more info here and here. I have nothing but praise for Ryegate, our pead there is simply wonderful .

ds saw neurology at sheffield as a baby because he has a prominent metopic ridge and it needed checking... i know they use to do operations at the hallamshire and procedures but i think it is the sheffiel childrens neurologists doing them. i only know because the whole clinic was delayed when i was there because ds's consultant hadd been called to hallamshire to help in surgery on a child

Dd sees Dr Peter Baxter at the Ryegate centre in Sheffield. He's my favourite of her many doctors and was instrumental in getting a diagnosis (4th gen genetic condition, it took 84 years for diagnosis! :-D) the condition isn't really neurological though so we don't actually need him anymore which is a shame.

But I know there are a team of paed neurologists at the Ryegate centre, each with their own specialty. I think there is also a dr Ritty who has a good reputation.

We have also had excellent experiences at Sheffield children's hospital. Dd has been an in patient as well as a regular at A&E. (It's not our local A&E but it's worth going a little further as our local hospital are horrendous! )

Thanks so much folks, that really helpful. We're actually near Hull, but tbh they're pretty carp. I've seen one neuro there very briefly who basically quized me on who refered me, why I was there and why she was seeing me. She then told me it would have to be a quick appoint as she was very busy and that she couldn't diagnose anything an he needed to see an OT. I explained that we'd done that raod twice but that the nhs OT's refused to see him as 'they have no service for children with dyspraxia type issues'. She told me that was ridiculous and that she would refer him, and that was basically end of appoint. She did refer him and they did again say they wouldnt see him.

Thanks