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.