Clinical neurophysiology clinical outcomes

Neurophysiology looks at how the body is working, particularly the brain and nervous system. A variety of methods are used to measure how the electrical signals from the brain and nervous system are changing, and the results are then used to make diagnoses and plan treatment. Conditions we are involved in monitoring and providing information about include mainly epilepsy and muscle disorders, but we also do clinical investigations on children referred from many specialties within the Hospital.

There are seven consultant Clinical Neurophysiologists in the department supported by 16 Clinical Physiologists and two Clinical Scientists. We also have administrative staff, who are responsible for keeping the department running smoothly.

We offer diagnostic services to all the departments in GOSH and also specialist services to children’s departments in hospitals across the South-East and more widely across the country.

Table 1 Number of investigations, 2016/17 to 2018/19

* Bed nights (may be 1-4/patient)

† approx. 30 bed nights lost to periods of ward closure

• EEG (electroencephalography) - recordings of the brain’s electrical activity (‘brain waves’) recorded from the scalp.
• EMG (electromyography) - measurements of electrical activity in nerves and muscles.
• Evoked Potentials - measurements of electrical signals produced by stimulating the senses (visual, auditory, skin).
• Video telemetry - prolonged EEG recording (over hours to days), linked to video recording of the child’s behaviour. This can be done at home or in hospital depending on the question asked by the clinical team.
• Intra-operative monitoring - Continuous monitoring of evoked potentials to assist the surgeon.

We aim to see all patients within six weeks of referral to ensure that assessment is undertaken in a timely manner and to avoid delays in treatment. The table below shows the percentage of patients seen at GOSH within six weeks of receipt of referral, as per the NHS standard. Patients seen more than six weeks from referral were all seen within the time specified by the referring clinician.

Table 2 Percentage of outpatients of the Clinical Neurophysiology Service who are seen within six weeks of new referral, 2016/17 to 2018/19

This information will be updated in April 2023.