Neuromuscular Disorders
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The Atkinson Morley Neuromuscular Centre
The Atkinson Morley Neuromuscular Centre provides specialist multi-disciplinary care for adults living with Neuromuscular conditions in Southwest London, Surrey and Sussex. The Centre received a national centre of excellence award in 2024.
Neuromuscular disorders are diseases that can cause problems with:
- the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord
- the muscles
- the communication between your nerves and muscles.
These conditions can cause a wide range of symptoms including loss or alteration of sensation, pain, muscle weakness and fatigue. Some people may also experience problems with their heart and breathing.
Our centre has specialist team members who provide care for and support people with neuromuscular conditions including:
- Neurologists
- Neurophysiologists
- Neuropathologists
- Neurorehabilitation specialists
- Clinical geneticists
- Neurophysiotherapist
- Neuromuscular Care Advisor
We also work jointly with the respiratory and cardiac teams as well as other medical specialists who may be involved in your care.
You may be referred to the Atkinson Morley Neuromuscular Centre for a diagnosis, or you may be referred with an existing condition for specialist treatment and management.
As a regional specialist centre, the neuromuscular team works closely with other clinical teams from across St George’s and other hospitals in south west London and Surrey. We also work with GPs and community therapy teams to help patients manage their condition and symptoms outside of hospital.
If you have a neuromuscular condition and would like to be seen at the Atkinson Morley Neuromuscular Centre you can request that your GP refers you to us.
Treatments
We assess and treat patients with all forms of neuromuscular disease. Common disorders we see at St George’s include:
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Peripheral neuropathies including small fibre neuropathies
- Myasthenia gravis
- Muscular dystrophies and other myopathies
- Inflammatory muscle diseases and inclusion body myositis
- Muscle and nerve channelopathies
- Mitochondrial diseases
What to expect
You should receive an appointment letter in the post as well as a text message reminding you about your appointment. Hospital transport can be arranged for you if you meet the specific criteria.
You will be seen in the Neuro-outpatient department in the Atkinson Morley Wing of St Georges Hospital. We also work closely with colleagues in district hospitals in Sussex and Surrey including running outreach clinics.
Key staff
Services are provided by a specialist multi-disciplinary team of neurologists, neurophysiologists, neuropathologists, and specialist nurses and physiotherapists.
Consultant Neurologists:
- Dr Ali Al-Memar
- Dr Clare Galtrey
- Dr Rebecca Cooper (jointly with University Hospitals Sussex)
- Dr Pablo Garcia-Reitboeck
- Dr Emma Matthews
- Dr Niranjanan Nirmalananthan
Consultant Neurophysiologists:
- Dr Mushriq Al-Khayatt
- Dr Cecilia Blomberg
- Dr Omay Lee
- Dr David Martin-Lopez
- Dr Cristina Vina
Consultant Neuropathologists:
- Dr Leslie Bridges
- Dr Paul Johns
- Dr Abel Devadass
Consultant Radiologists:
- Dr Faraan Khan, Consultant Neuroradiologist
- Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist
- Dr Nik Papadakos, Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist
Neuromuscular Care Advisors:
The Neuromuscular Care Advisor (NMCA) will provide you with on-going advice and support about your neuromuscular condition. This may be particularly helpful when you are newly diagnosed or when something changes in your condition. This includes support for emotional-wellbeing, health and social care needs.
- Ms Pamela Appleton
- Ms Veronica Dappio
Neuromuscular Physiotherapists
- Sherryl Chatfield, Specialist Neuromuscular Physiotherapist
- Outpatient Neurophysiotherapy Team
Neuromuscular Coordinator
The Coordinator will help to ensure that you know when your appointments are, and will serve as the main point of contact for all queries to the Neuromuscular Team.
- Ms Sabrina Scarpone-Dugasse
Referrals
Please visit our Neurosciences Booking and Referral Centre for instructions on how to refer to Neurology.
Specialist Clinics
We run a number of clinics including general nerve and muscle clinics where symptoms may first be assessed as well as disease specific clinics.
- Muscle disease service
- Peripheral nerve service
- Spinal muscular atrophy clinic
- Motor neurone disease clinic
- Myasthenia clinic
- Myotonic dystrophy clinic
- Transition clinic for young adults with neuromuscular disorders
- Muscle and nerve channelopathy clinic
- Small fibre neuropathy service
