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Preston Neuromuscular Service, Royal Preston Hospital

The Neuromuscular team offers diagnostic and treatment services to patients with neuromuscular conditions including neuropathies, myopathies and neuromuscular junction disorders (myasthenia gravis). The team includes a full time specialist nurse, and a part time specialist physiotherapist, and the service has been redesigned so that it is delivered predominantly on a day case basis.

The team has been instrumental in improving the assessment and treatment of neuropathies. Whilst many neuropathies have no effective medical treatment, there are subgroups which do respond to medication. The most widely used drug is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), with the majority of patients requiring repeated treatments, often over many years. Each patient has different treatment requirements and the team ensures through the use of objective outcome measures that patients are given the right treatment regimen, including withdrawal of treatment in those patients who do not respond. A long-term knowledge of the patients, particularly by the Specialist Nurse, underpins the meaningful application of these measures.

The Specialist Physiotherapist has established links with other physiotherapy services in the region and this has improved access to local physiotherapy.

The team is willing to share their protocols for the administration of IVIG which have reduced treatment complications, and the use of standardised outcome measures to inform decisions on treatment.

For further information please contact: Dr John Nixon, Consultant Neurologist, Royal Preston Hospital
Tel: 01772 522557; Email:

• John.Nixon@lthtr.nhs.uk (opens new window)