Neurosurgery
The regional neurosurgical unit for South Trent, previously based in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, moved to the Queen's Medical Centre in 1985. QMC is now one of the busiest neurosurgical departments in the country. We provide both adult and paediatric services to a wide regional area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire with catchment population of around 3 million.
Nottingham neurosurgical team is led by 13 consultants providing treatment for all the major subspecialties of neurosurgery. Our highly specialised unit carries around 2000 neurosurgical emergency, urgent and elective operations a year. We are vital part of the East midlands trauma service and major trauma unit. We run 3 modern and fully equipped theatres and have access to one emergency theatre every day. The department is well equipped with up-to-date neuro navigation systems, intraoperative ultrasound, 5-ALA and ICG enabled microscopes and endoscopes, neurophysiology and intraoperative function mapping technologies. Our latest addition state of art Intraoperative MRI will help to provide best care for our patients.
What is Neurosurgery?
The neurosurgical unit in Nottingham has a high profile in the wider neurosurgical community. It has a strong reputation for training and for innovation.
Staff act as examiners for the Intercollegiate FRCS Examination in Neurosurgery and this is one of a small number of units in the country to regularly host this examination. Neuro-endoscopic techniques and expertise developed here have been disseminated around the country through regular practical courses held at the Royal College of Surgeons. Iain Robertson is current president for British skull base society. Mr Macarthur sits on the Royal Colleges' SAC (Specialist Advisory Committee) for Neurosurgery. Barrie White is a past Vice-President of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons. Nottingham neurosurgical department has regularly been and is actively involved in formation of national neurosurgical guidelines through national committee's like NICE.
Research and Innovation
Nottingham has consistently been a significant contributor to key multicentre neurosurgical studies and we continue that trend.
We were the largest sole contributor to the International Sub Arachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT) which revolutionised the management of ruptured cerebral aneurysms, and contributed patients to the steering committee of the STICH trial looking at the role of surgery in intracerebral haemorrhage. We were actively involved in RESCUE ICP trial, BASICS trial and DEx CSDH trials and many more.
In neuro-oncology we have participated in the evaluation of new therapies for brain tumours including Gliadel implantable chemotherapy and a novel Gene Therapy study for gliomas. Paul Byrne had lead a project to develop a neurosurgical robot , funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. Nottingham is part of a Functional Imaging Network which is steadily accruing and sharing data which allows detailed characterisation of brain tumours noninvasively.
In functional neurosurgery we were active involved in national trial of surgery for Parkinson's disease and PROMISE study for spinal cord stimulators. Michael Vloeberghs is internationally recognised as having one of the largest series in the world of children with spastic cerebral palsy treated with continuous intrathecal baclofen and spinal dorsal rhizotomy. Children are referred here for this from as far afield as Scotland and Wales.
Clinical Work
Whilst all operations (around 2000 / year, 280 of them in children) are performed at QMC, staff from the unit here also carry out weekly Outpatient clinics in Leicester General Hospital and Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. Neurosurgery is a specialty with a very high proportion of emergency and urgent work and adult and paediatric referrals come from hospitals throughout Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.
Meet the team
The Neurosurgical Unit in Nottingham has a high profile in the wider neurosurgical community, with a strong reputation for training and innovation.
Some of our neurosurgeons act as examiners for the Intercollegiate FRCS Examination in Neurosurgery. Nottingham is one of a small number of units in the country to regularly host this examination.
Richard Ashpole
Specialist areas of interest:
- Complex hydrocephalus
- Lumbar and cervical spine
- Simulation
Contact Richard on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 61105.
Surajit Basu
Specialist areas of interest:
- Movement disorders
- Spasticity
- Chronic pain and trigeminal neuralgia
- Epilepsy surgery
- Brain tumours and awake craniotomy
Contact Surajit on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 63635.
Paul Byrne
Paul has recently led a project to develop a neurosurgical robot, funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. His specialist areas of interest are:
- Brain tumours
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Awake craniotomy
Contact Paul on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 62254.
Maria Cartmill
Specialist areas of interest:
- Paediatric neurosurgery
- Neuroendoscopy
- Antenatal counselling
Contact Maria on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 61105.
Graham Dow
Specialist areas of interest:
- Vascular neurosurgery
- Skull base tumours
Contact Graham on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 62254.
Simon Howarth
Specialist areas of interest:
- Paediatric neurosurgery
- Spine
Contact Simon on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 61925.
Donald MacArthur
Specialist areas of interest:
- Brain tumours
- Paediatric neurosurgery
- Neuroendoscopy
Contact Donald on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 61105.
Iain Robertson
Iain is the Head of Service and sits on the Royal College’s Specialist Advisory Committee for Neurosurgery. His specialist areas of interest are:
- Skull base
- Pituitary disease
- Acoustic neuroma
Contact Iain on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 62254.
Professor Stuart Smith
Specialist areas of interest:
- Brain tumours
- Degenerative spine
- Neurosurgical research
Contact Stuart on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 61925.
Michael Vloeberghs
Michael is internationally recognised for his care of children with spastic cerebral palsy treated with continuous intrathecal baclofen. Children are referred to the Trust from as far afield as Scotland and Wales and a national randomised study of intrathecal baclofen treatment is now underway. Michael's specialist areas of interest are:
- Paediatric neurosurgery
- Neuroendoscopy
- Spasticity
Contact Michael on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 63635.
Barrie White
- Barrie is a past vice-president of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons. His specialist areas of interest are:
- Complex spinal
- Intradural spinal tumours
Contact Barrie on 0115 924 9924 Ext: 61925.
Contact us
For general enquiries call 0115 924 9924 Ext: 82254.