Urgent care advice

This leaflet gives you information and useful contact information if your patient needs advice after having Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS):

 Urgent care advice for Medical Staff after your patient undergoes Deep Brain Stimulation

Wound Issues (e.g. potential infection or breakdown of skin)

Immediately after surgery (e.g. 1 to 2 weeks)

If your patient thinks they have a wound infection or are worried about their wound they should contact the Neurosurgical Wards at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

• Ward 65 –  Telephone: 0141 201 2017

2 to 3 weeks after surgery

They should contact their GP for an initial assessment, who can then contact the local Neurosurgical Team or the DBS team if necessary.

Any Mechanical or Electrical Issues with the Pulse Generator

• If they are having problems with the pulse generator they may have to check the hand held programmer if they have one. (The programmer allows you to adjust the neurostimulator and to turn it on and off). If they are unsure how to do this they can phone the DBS team for advice or we can arrange for them to attend the clinic.  (Please see the contact details below).Please check that the pulse generator has not been accidently turned off.  This could lead to symptoms being uncontrolled. But can be easily switched back on with a hand-held programmer.

• If the programmer shows the Elective Replacement Indicator (ERI) this means the battery is low and will need replaced over the next few months. This is not an emergency. Please contact the DBS Administrator.

• If the programmer shows End of Life (EOL) this means the battery needs replaced. If their symptoms or condition worsens they should contact their GP for advice and we may need to replace this urgently. Otherwise, please contact the DBS administrator to arrange to have the battery replaced.

• For any other issues relating to the pulse generator or the hand held programmer please contact the DBS administrator.

You can find further information in the DBS booklet, if you do not have a copy please contact the DBS administrator.

Contact Details

Margaret Reynolds

DBS Administrator

Telephone: 0141 232 7512 (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm)

  Email: Margaret.Reynolds@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 

This leaflet gives you information and useful contact information if you need advice after having Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS):

Urgent care advice for patients and carers after having Deep Brain Stimulation

Wound Issues (e.g. potential infection or breakdown of skin)

Immediately after your surgery (e.g. 1 to 2 weeks)

If you think you have a wound infection or are worried about your wound please contact the Neurosurgical Wards at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where you had your surgery:

• Ward 65 – Telephone: 0141 201 2017

2 to 3 weeks after your surgery

Please contact your GP for an assessment, your GP can then contact your local Neurosurgical Team or the DBS team if necessary.

Any Mechanical or Electrical Issues with the Pulse Generator

If you are having problems with the pulse generator you may have to check the hand held programmer if you have one. (The programmer allows you to adjust the neurostimulator and to turn it on and off). If you are unsure how to do this you can phone us for advice or we can arrange for you to attend the clinic.  (Please see the contact details below).

• Please check that the pulse generator has not been accidently turned off.  This could lead to symptoms being uncontrolled. But you can easily switch it back on if you have a hand-held programmer.

• If the programmer shows the Elective Replacement Indicator (ERI) this means the battery is low and will need replaced over the next few months. This is not an emergency. Please contact the DBS Administrator.

• If the programmer shows End of Life (EOL) this means the battery needs replaced. If your symptoms or condition worsens please contact your GP for advice as we may need to replace this urgently. Otherwise, please contact the DBS administrator to arrange to have the battery replaced.

• For any other issues relating to the pulse generator or the hand held programmer please contact the DBS administrator.

You can find further information in the DBS booklet, if you do not have a copy please contact the DBS administrator.

Contact Details

Margaret Reynolds

DBS Administrator

Telephone: 01412327512

  Email: margaret.reynolds@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

(Monday to Friday - 9.00am to 5.00pm)

Out of hours (after 5pm and before 9am), if you think you require emergency advice which is covered above, then your initial point of contact is your GP or Telephone: NHS 24, who may contact the local neurology or neurosurgical team. They can then contact the on-call neurosurgical team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow if this is necessary.