Neuropsychology referral (Guidelines)

• Outpatient.
• Adult (aged over 18 years).
• Resident within North Highland Health and Social Care Partnership.
• Referred by, and under the care of, a Consultant Neurologist, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine or their team within Raigmore Hospital, NHS Highland.
• Referred in the context of established or suspected neurological diagnosis for example:
  • Acquired brain injury
  • Epilepsy
  • Multiple sclerosis

Exclusions:

• Current inpatient.
• Request for differential cognitive assessment where dementia suspected.
• Learning Disability.
• Neurodevelopmental disorders for example:
  • investigation for ADHD
  • ASD
  • Dyslexia
  • FAS
• Pain or adjustment difficulties in the context of physical health condition.
• Active psychiatric disturbance or alcohol excess.

Please note that these pathways are for presenting cognitive symptoms (in line with referral criteria detailed above) and not for adjustment or mental health concerns (such as anxiety and depression symptoms).

Referral for assessment of mental health symptoms is best advised via the patient’s GP.

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
  Consultation can be requested through the functional MDT complex case discussion forum.
  Patients with an established diagnosis are not currently taken on for assessment or treatment.
  Assessment to aid medical differential diagnosis can be requested via the routes above.
• Stroke
  Neuropsychology consultation and referrals are considered via MDT discussion with the Stroke Co-ordinators and OT lead.
  If you think cognitive assessment / rehabilitation may be useful for your patient, please raise this for attention of the Stroke Co-ordinators in the first instance (Linda Campbell: linda.campbell8@nhs.scot and / or Gemma MacIvor: gemma.macivor@chss.org.uk)