Paediatric Epilepsy
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Epilepsy at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
The Paediatric Epilepsy programme is based within the Department of Paediatric Neurology at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. The department is a tertiary referral centre and one of the longest established paediatric neurology departments in Britain, supported by a consultant team based in Manchester.
Observers and fellows will gain exposure to complex paediatric epilepsy care within a major specialist children’s hospital. Learning is centred on consultant-led practice, multidisciplinary decision-making, epilepsy surgery pathways, neurophysiology, ketogenic diet services and the wider paediatric neurology interface with neurosurgery, psychology, psychiatry, metabolic medicine, clinical genetics and paediatric intensive care.
The service supports children and young people with a broad range of neurological conditions. Epilepsy is a key subspecialty area, including complex epilepsy, epilepsy surgery and ketogenic diet specialist services. Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is part of NorCESS, the Northern Children’s Epilepsy Surgery Service, delivered jointly with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital provides the Manchester component of this nationally commissioned pathway, including surgery for children under five years of age.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
Manchester researchers at MFT and The University of Manchester reported a major 2026 Nature Genetics discovery describing RNU2-2-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, strengthening Manchester’s profile in genomic investigation of severe epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The Department of Paediatric Neurology has published paediatric epilepsy work with RMCH affiliation, including research on zonisamide use in children with epilepsy.
The wider RMCH and Manchester clinical-academic environment includes specialist paediatric neurology, neurophysiology, neurosurgery, clinical genetics and rare disease expertise relevant to complex epilepsy care.
Rare and complex cases
- Drug-resistant and complex epilepsies requiring tertiary paediatric neurology input.
- Epilepsy surgery assessment and multidisciplinary pathway discussion through NorCESS.
- Children requiring EEG, sleep-deprived EEG, ambulatory EEG or video telemetry as part of diagnostic evaluation.
- Children with epilepsy and neurodevelopmental, genetic, metabolic, neurocutaneous or neuropsychiatric comorbidity.
- Epilepsy within broader complex neurological presentations, including tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, acquired brain injury, neurovascular disease and neurometabolic conditions.
- Ketogenic diet specialist service involvement where clinically appropriate to the pathway.
- Interface with neurosurgery and paediatric intensive care for complex cases requiring joint planning.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Paediatric Epilepsy
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Describe the structure of tertiary paediatric epilepsy services within a large NHS children’s hospital.
- Observe consultant-led assessment of children and young people with epilepsy and related neurological conditions.
- Understand the role of EEG, ambulatory EEG, sleep studies, video telemetry and neurophysiology in paediatric epilepsy pathways.
- Explain how multidisciplinary input supports epilepsy surgery assessment, ketogenic diet pathways and care planning for complex epilepsy.
- Recognise the interface between paediatric neurology, neurosurgery, clinical genetics, metabolic medicine, psychology, psychiatry and intensive care.
- Compare NHS governance, patient safety, documentation and family-centred communication approaches with practice in the observer’s home setting.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Paediatric Epilepsy
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Develop supervised experience in the assessment and management of children and young people with complex epilepsy.
- Contribute to structured clinical discussions, multidisciplinary reviews and care planning under consultant supervision.
- Build practical understanding of epilepsy surgery pathways, ketogenic diet services and neurophysiology-supported decision-making.
- Strengthen clinical reasoning around differential diagnosis, seizure classification, comorbidity and treatment escalation in complex paediatric epilepsy.
- Engage with audit, quality improvement, teaching or research activity.
- Develop confidence in NHS-style multidisciplinary working, risk assessment, safeguarding awareness and family-centred care.
- Translate learning into service improvement, specialist practice or leadership development in the fellow’s home health system.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in ophthalmology or a relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in ophthalmology or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.