Paediatric Neurology
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Neurology at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
The Department of Paediatric Neurology at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is a long-established tertiary paediatric neurology service and centre of excellence. The department provides specialist inpatient care at RMCH and offers outreach clinics across the district general hospitals it serves. The service works closely with child psychiatry, psychology, neurosurgery, metabolic medicine, clinical genetics and paediatric intensive care, giving visiting clinicians broad exposure to multidisciplinary management of children with neurological disease.
The placement is particularly suited to internationally trained doctors seeking supervised exposure to advanced paediatric neurology within a major UK children’s hospital.
Key service strengths include complex epilepsy, including epilepsy surgery and ketogenic diet services; neuromuscular disorders; acquired brain injury; neurovascular disease; tuberous sclerosis; neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2; neuroimmunology; and inherited white matter disorders. The department is one of four centres in England chosen to provide a children’s epilepsy surgery service, delivered jointly with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital through NorCESS, with surgery for children under five taking place in Manchester.
RMCH also contributes to a wider paediatric neuroscience environment, with close links to paediatric neurosurgery, neuropsychology, clinical genetics, metabolic medicine and paediatric intensive care. This creates valuable opportunities for visiting professionals to understand how specialist decision-making, family-centred care and complex care coordination are delivered in the NHS.
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
Offringa M, Newton R, Nevitt SJ, Vraka K. Prophylactic drug management for febrile seizures in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021.
Varma U, Mukherjee D, Hughes I, Sethuraman C, Kamupira S. X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in a Preterm Infant: A Rare Combination. Pediatrics. 2020 Sep;146(3):e20182879. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-2879. PMID: 32826339.
Anuar MA, Whitehouse ER, Varma U, McCullagh G, Hughes I. Fifteen-minute consultation: Approach to a child with congenital insensitivity to pain. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2025 Jan 17;110(1):2-7. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-326479. PMID: 38688704.
Vraka K, Ram D, West S, Chia WYE, Kurup P, Subramanian G, Tan HJ. Two paediatric patients with encephalopathy and concurrent COVID-19 infection: two sides of the same coin? Case Reports in Neurological Medicine, 2021.
Ram D, Newton R. The Genetics of Febrile Seizures. Pediatric Neurology Briefs, 2015; affiliation listed as Department of Paediatric Neurology, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Rare and complex cases
- Complex epilepsy, including children considered for epilepsy surgery and ketogenic diet pathways.
- Inherited white matter disorders / leukodystrophies, supported by a formally commissioned highly specialised diagnostic and management service delivered with Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
- Neurofibromatosis type 1 and type 2, including complex NF1 pathways and interdisciplinary working with genomic medicine, ophthalmology, maxillofacial, ENT, spinal, orthopaedic and transition services.
- Neurovascular disease, including joint practice with paediatric neurosurgery where appropriate.
- Neuroimmunology and neurometabolic presentations requiring collaboration across neurology, metabolic medicine, genetics, neuroradiology and intensive care.
- Neuromuscular disorders, including multidisciplinary management and pathway-based follow-up.
- Acquired brain injury and children requiring complex rehabilitation or neuropsychological input.
- Complex neurological disorders requiring combined neurological, neurosurgical, neuro-oncology, psychology, psychiatry, intensive care and allied health input.
- Inherited white matter disorder regional clinic
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 Neurology
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- The structure of a tertiary paediatric neurology service and its links with wider NHS pathways.
- Assessment, investigation and management of children with complex neurological disorders, within observer status.
- Multidisciplinary working across paediatric neurology and related specialties.
- Clinical reasoning in areas such as epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, neuroimmunology and acquired brain injury.
- How safeguarding, consent, family communication and holistic care are embedded in practice.
- The role of clinics, MDTs, inpatient reviews, governance, research, audit and quality improvement.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Paediatric Neurology
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to describe, reflect on and, where appropriate, contribute to:
- The delivery of tertiary paediatric neurology care within wider NHS and specialist pathways.
- Assessment, investigation and management of children with complex neurological disorders, within agreed supervised practice.
- Multidisciplinary decision-making across paediatric neurology and related specialties.
- Clinical reasoning in specialist areas including epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, neuroimmunology and acquired brain injury.
- Safe, family-centred care, including safeguarding, consent, communication and transition planning.
- Clinics, MDTs, inpatient reviews, governance, research, audit and quality improvement.
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.