Neurosurgery

The Department of Neurosurgery provides diagnosis and treatment for children with injuries or disorders affecting their nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Commonly managed conditions include:

• brain tumours
• congenital malformations
• hydrocephalus
• trauma
• neonatal emergencies.

Clinics

Outpatient clinics
Level 3 (3b), Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane 4101
Mondays  |  8am–12pm
Thursdays  |  1pm–4pm
Every second Friday  |  8am–12pm

Neurosurgeons also attend the following clinics:
Spina Bifida clinic
Level 6 (6g), Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane 4101
Every second Friday morning

Craniofacial clinic
Level 3 (3b), Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane 4101
Every second Friday afternoon

Who can access this service?

New patients

Referrals are accepted up to a child’s 16th birthday.

Existing patients with complex care needs

Referrals are accepted up to a child’s 18th birthday (patients are usually transitioned to adult services by this time).

Catchment area

Specialist Neurosurgery services at the Queensland Children’s Hospital are available to all children living in Queensland.

Townsville and Gold Coast Hospitals also provide limited paediatric neurosurgery services.

Do I need a referral?

You will need a formal referral to access this service.

How do I get a referral?

Referrals are accepted from paediatric specialists.

Other referral information

All emergencies are attended to immediately. Other referrals are triaged and treatment is delivered in accordance with the needs of each patient.

Where possible, we try to improve waiting times for the non-emergency categories of care.

Information for health professionals

From 1 May 2019 referral criteria will apply at CHQ. This condition has minimum demographic and essential clinical referral information that is required to be included prior to submission of the referral. Visit the CPC website for the required condition. If you are unable to provide the required “essential information” please state the reason when you submit the referral.

Referral instructions

Urgent referrals
For urgent referrals, please contact the neurosurgery registrar on call through the hospital switchboard.
t: 07 3068 1111

The registrar will assess the severity of the patient’s case and provide advice regarding the measures to be taken. Alternatively, please refer patients to the emergency department of the Queensland Children’s Hospital or the nearest hospital offering paediatric services.

For clinical prioritisation criteria in paediatric neurosurgery, visit – https://cpc.health.qld.gov.au/specialty/11/neurosurgery

Our team

Director

Dr Robert Campbell MBBS FRACS

Senior Medical Officers

Dr Raymond Chaseling MBBS FRACS
Dr Norman Ma BHB MBChB FRACS
Dr Gert Tollesson FRACS
Dr Martin Wood MBChB FRACS