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SWNODN Neuromuscular Physiotherapists

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The South West Neuromuscular Operational Delivery Network (SWNODN) employs three Paediatric Neuromuscular Physiotherapists and three Adult Neuromuscular Physiotherapists.   The Neuromuscular Physiotherapists attend paediatric, transition and adult neuromuscular clinics around the region, providing specialist advice and support to patients, families and carers.  They are also a valuable resource for advising, supporting and training local teams in various aspects of the specific physiotherapy assessment and management of neuromuscular conditions.  Community Physiotherapists are always very welcome to attend specialist neuromuscular clinics along with their patients.  The Neuromuscular Physiotherapists will liaise with Community Physiotherapists about their patients as necessary, but especially before and after a clinic visit.

Our Neuromuscular Physiotherapists may attend home or school visits, as required, with a Neuromuscular Advisor and can offer ongoing advice and support to patients and their families to help them deal with the physical challenges of a neuromuscular condition. 

Southmead Hospital Bristol

Nicola Grose (nee Doran)

Nicki graduated as a Physiotherapist from the University of Southampton in 2002. She has worked in several areas of physiotherapy at North Bristol Trust and within the community for North Somerset Community Services. This work included intensive input after a hospital admission and facilitating patients in the community to continue self-management.  She joined the SW Neuromuscular ODN in February 2011 and covers the northern part of the South West region working with adults with a neuromuscular condition. 

Nicki’s experience in hospitals and the community, together with her neurology and rehabilitation knowledge, gives her a great understanding of the mobility and functional difficulties of people living with a neuromuscular condition.  She has developed a holistic, flexible and patient-led service and works with a multi-disciplinary team providing a service for adults and patients in transition from paediatric to adult neuromuscular services to facilitate a seamless transfer.

Her overall objective is to ensure people living with a neuromuscular condition feel empowered, informed and able to maximise their independence with the guidance from the Neuromuscular team working jointly with their local therapy services.

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Faye Mason-Elias

Faye joined the SW Neuromuscular ODN as a Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist in January 2019.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Janet McCay

Janet is a Specialist Neuromuscular Physiotherapist for adults in Cornwall.

Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro

Jackie Watson

Jackie Watson joined the SW Neuromuscular ODN as a Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist in January 2017.

Derriford Hospital Plymouth

Claire Frimpong-Ansah

Claire is the SW Neuromuscular ODN Paediatric Specialist Physiotherapist for patients in Devon.

Mount Gould Hospital Plymouth

Georgina Grimshaw

Georgina works as the SW Neuromuscular ODN Specialist Physiotherapist for patients in Devon.

SWNODN Specialist Clinical Psychologists

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The South West Neuromuscular Operational Delivery Network (SWNODN) employs two Psychologists who are based at Southmead Hospital Bristol and Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. They are available to meet with adult patients during specialist neuromuscular clinics, for direct therapeutic work and can also offer telephone consultations if required. They offer psychological advice and support for adults to help with the emotional challenges that can arise, both at the point of diagnosis of a neuromuscular condition and going forward. They work closely with local Clinical Psychology teams around the South West to provide support and specialist knowledge about the challenges of neuromuscular conditions. They can also provide support to families during the transition from paediatric to adult NHS services. 

 

Southmead Hospital Bristol

Dr John Ashworth

John joined the SWNODN in April 2015.  He is a Counselling Psychologist who will work with adults who have a confirmed diagnosis of neuromuscular condition.  He accepts referrals via the specialist Neuromuscular MDT clinics or the Neuromuscular Advisors.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

Specialist Psychologist (Devon & Cornwall)

There is currently no Specialist Psychologist attached to the SW Neuromuscular ODN for Devon and Cornwall patients.

Patients can be referred to Dr John Ashworth, Counselling Psychologist based in Bristol, for advice or telephone consultations.  Contact the SWNODN Office in Bristol in the first instance.

SWNODN Consultant Neurologists

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The South West Neuromuscular Operational Delivery Network (SWNODN) employs two Paediatric Neurologists and two Adult Neurologists who have a specialist interest in neuromuscular conditions. They hold weekly paediatric and adult neuromuscular clinics in Plymouth and Bristol, as well as a number of regular clinics across the South West. For further information about these, please go to the Clinics section of this website.

Each consultant is supported in the neuromuscular clinics by a Neuromuscular Physiotherapist, a Neuromuscular Advisor and a Specialist Clinical Psychologist who are available to provide information and advice. Additional local specialist clinicians and allied healthcare professionals who specialise in other areas of medicine such as respiratory, cardiac and genetics, may also attend joint clinics (this is often called a multi-disciplinary clinic). This ensures patients receive the best treatment and medical care possible relevant to their specific condition.

Consultant Neurologists

The SWNODN employs two Consultant Neurologists who have a specialist interest in neuromuscular conditions. They provide neuromuscular clinics for adults with a neuromuscular condition across the South West and are based in Southmead Hospital Bristol and Mount Gould Hospital, Plymouth. 

Southmead Hospital Bristol

Dr Andria Merrison

Dr Merrison trained in Neurology and undertook sub-specialist training in Neuromuscular Disease (in London and Oxford) and Intensive Care Medicine. Her period of research, studying the muscle regenerating capacity of human bone marrow stem cells, led to being awarded an MD in 2008. Dr Merrison is the Clinical Lead for the South West Neuromuscular ODN and the Clinical Director of the Bristol Motor Neurone Disease Centre. These are both regional services, providing care for people living with these conditions in the northern half of the South West region. Dr Merrison is also a board member of the Association of British Neurologists Specialist Interest Group for Neuromuscular Disease, setting standards and publishing guidelines for the care of patients with Neuromuscular Disease in the UK. 

Southmead Hospital Bristol / Mount Gould Hospital Plymouth

Dr Clare Wood-Allum

Dr Wood-Allum holds neuromuscular clinics at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, as well as travelling to Mount Gould Hospital, Plymouth and Royal Hospital Cornwall to provide neuromuscular clinics in those areas.

Consultant Paediatric Neurologists

The SWNODN employs two Consultant Paediatric Neurologists, both based in the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. The Paediatric Neurologists look after children with a neuromuscular condition from the point of diagnosis up until the age of 16, at which point they will help guide the child and their family through the process of transition into the adult neurology services.

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Dr Anirban (Arni) Majumdar

Dr Majumdar has been a Consultant in Paediatric Neurology in Bristol since May 2007.  Neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders, management of spasticity in children, childhood headaches and functional disorders are areas where he has particular clinical and research interests. He enhanced his interest in paediatric movement disorders by working in Barcelona as a Clinical Fellow.

He has commenced and collaborated in several new research projects and ensured Bristol’s participation in several national initiatives and collaborations in the neuromuscular field, for example North Star, SMArNet, Treat NMD). This will ensure that neuromuscular patients in the South West will have access to cutting edge research and potential treatments in the future.

In his capacity as a Neuromuscular Specialist he has been involved with some very complex ethical issues and has obtained an MSc in Ethics of Healthcare and Law.

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Dr Kayal Vijayakumar

Dr Vijayakumar is a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist with special interest in neuromuscular conditions.  She is based at United Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, but provides an equitable and excellent clinical service across the South West region.

Dr Vijayakumar undertook her undergraduate medical training in South India and postgraduate paediatric and sub speciality paediatric neurology training was across various regions in UK, including Yorkshire, Northern, East Anglia, Severn, Wessex and London regions.

She is privileged to have the opportunity to provide care for children with neuromuscular disease in the South West and is enthusiastic to strengthen and build our clinical network services across the South West region, in places closer to children and families who use the neuromuscular service. She is passionate about providing family centred practice through team working and quality improvement and believes that through the multi-disciplinary team we will be able to deliver world-class service to our users. She will endeavour to deliver this service, along with our network team, through a compassionate and holistic approach. 

Dr Fionn Williams - Radiology

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GMC Number: 7047324

Year of first qualification: 2003

Specialty: Neuroradiology

Clinical Interest: Paediatric Neuroradiology

Secretary: Caroline Hawkins

I graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2003 winning prizes in Surgery and Paediatrics. Following completion of basic surgical training in Dublin and award of the MRCS I undertook general radiology training in Bristol leading to award of the FRCR in 2012.

Following this I gained a place on the Sheffield Neuroradiology fellowship with emphasis on fetal and paediatric neuroimaging. During this time I published papers in peer reviewed journals and presented at national and international meetings.

My main interests are the developing brain including fetal neuroimaging, neonatal imaging and imaging in non-accidental injury. Another keen interest is medical education especially the training of radiology registrars and medical students.

Away from work I like to keep fit especially swimming and am an avid ball sports fan.

I am a member of the BMA, British Society of Neuroradiologists and the MDU.

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Williams

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme

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The Bristol Bath & Weston AAA Screening programme was introduced in January 2012 as part of the national NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme.

We cover all GP practices in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset.

For more information please see 'screening where you live' on the national programme website 
www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening/LocationSearch/1910

How are we doing in 2018/2019

  • We invited 5,578 men for screening
  • 4,782 attended their screening appointment. This is an uptake of 85.7%
  • In addition we screened 288 older men who had self-referred to the service
  • We detected 55 AAA's in total and made 12 referrals for consideration of surgery.  

What about aneurysm surgery?

Men with large aneurysms will be referred to the new Major Arterial Centre at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

An urgent clinic appointment will be made to see a vascular surgeon at your local hospital such as Weston General Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary or Southmead Hospital.                

More information on AAA treatment is available from:

Contact AAA Screening

The following should be used for general enquiries, appointment changes and self-referrals.

Telephone: 0117 4148610

Email: aaascreening@nbt.nhs.uk

Bristol Bath & Weston AAA Screening Programme
Office 2, Level 3, Gate 38
Brunel building
Southmead Hospital
Bristol
BS10 5NB

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Abdominal
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