The service works closely with the adult neuromuscular services at St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital and the nationally renowned Lane Fox respiratory unit at St Thomas’ Hospital to ensure a smooth transition for adolescents moving to adult services.
The children’s neuromuscular service is a leading centre for research into the clinical and genetic characterisation of inherited neuromuscular conditions. They work closely with King’s College London and with national and international research networks to investigate the causes of neuromuscular disorders in order to identify cures.
The neuromuscular service is supported by spinal, orthopaedic, intensive care, endocrine, cardiology and respiratory services at Evelina Children’s Hospital.
How to access the service
This is a tertiary level service and referral is usually made by consultants from other specialties at Evelina Children’s or consultants from other hospitals. Referrals can also be made by GPs, for example if there is a known neuromuscular disorder or a second opinion is required.
The team
Dr Elizabeth Wraige
Consultant Paediatric Neurologist
Doctor Elizabeth Wraige has been working as a consultant children's neurologist at Evelina Hospital since 2003, holding clinics in general children's neurology, neuromuscular disease and cerebrovascular disease. Elizabeth also runs outreach clinics to several areas in the south east Thames region.
Dr Heinz Jungbluth
Consultant Paediatric Neurologist
Doctor Heinz Jungbluth has been a consultant and senior lecturer in children's neurology at the Evelina since 2004. Doctor Jungbluth’s main research interest is in neurogenetics and he has been leading the clinical and genetic characterisation of a wide range of inherited neurological and neuromuscular disorders.
Dr Vasantha Gowda
Consultant Paediatric Neurologist
Dr Vasantha Gowda is a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at the Evelina Children's Hospital.
Jennie Sheehan
Clinical Specialist Neuromuscular Physiotherapist
Jennie has been the Clinical Specialist Paediatric Neuromuscular physiotherapist at Guys and St Thomas for twenty years, and based at Evelina Children’s Hospital for the last ten.
Jennie is a member of the Northstar Steering Committee, which works to improve the care of young patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and one of the authors who developed the Northstar Physiotherapy Assessment which is now widely used both in clinical practice and research.
Other key people in the team include:
- Ms Caron Coleman, Occupational Therapist
- Debbie Clarke, Outreach nurse
Clinics
Children
Clinics are held at Evelina Children's Hospital London
- Childrens' Multidisciplinary Neuromuscular clinic, Tuesday mornings (fortnightly) Wednesdays all day (weekly)
- Fortnightly physiotherapy clinics led by Jennie Sheehan and Rachael Spahr
- Monthly myasthenia clinic