Clinics S6, S13 Ground Floor, MOPD
Neurophysiology S25, 1st floor, OPD
Wards E2, 5th floor, old building
Patients Referral Guidelines:
Ideally from paediatricians - faxed referrals accepted, telephonic consultations for doctors can be arranged via the neurology clerk (021) 658-5535.
Unit profile
Red Cross Children's Hospital is the largest children's hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa. It provides all levels of multidisciplinary care at an international level whilst taking in to account the limitations of being located in a resource poor country.
The Division of Developmental paediatrics sees both common and rare, complex multisystemic disorders (Autism, genetic syndromes with associated developmental problems, cerebral palsy etc).
The vision and mission of the service is directed specifically towards the impact from diseases of poverty, which dominate the service load, i.e.
tuberculosis
human immunodeficiency virus type 1
perinatal injury and disorders of antenatal toxin exposure (FAS, Methamphetamin exposure)
The child development service is directed towards building and expanding capacity to manage both complex disorders and the neglected diseases of poverty from vulnerable populations.
Dedicated clinics have established large cohorts of children from the Sub-Saharan African population
Cerebral Palsy
Autism
Neurocutaneous disorders.
The service operates in the region of 60 clinics a month, with almost 3000 clinic visits a year
There are 6 dedicated paediatric beds which are available to the department should children require admission for diagnostic workup or complex management issues, but many more patients are managed on the "general wards" on a referral / advisory basis.
Outreach service operates with regular specialist visits for both training and case assessment.
The service assists with establishing government guidelines aimed towards optimal care in a resource poor setting.
Teaching and Training
Currently one of two centres in South Africa with a dedicated child development/paediatric neurodevelopment training post.
The post follows international training guidelines.
To date 4 trainees fully completed training (now in consultant posts).
The team regard training as an essential way to improve care to children with developmental problems - we are keen to set up links with other centres throughout Africa and to offer training experiences either through attachments to our department or through invited training workshops.
Neurology Unit Timetable
Day
Time
Description
Venue
Monday
08:30
Celebral Palsy Clinic
S13
08.30
Development Clinic
S6
13.00
NeuroDev combined meeting
14.00
Neurophysiology
15.30
Undergraduate lectures
7th Floor, ICH
Tuesday
07:30
Neuroradiology Meeting
B3
08:30
Development Clinic
S6
12.00
E2 Ward Meeting
E2
13:00
Neurology Journal Club
S25
14.00
Student Clinical Teaching
14:30
Preparation for reports for
school placements
Wednesday
08:00
Department Meeting
D3
09:30
Cerebral Palsy Clinic
S13
09:30
Neurodevelopment Clinics
S6
09:30
CP orthopaedic Clinic
13:00
Spinal Defects Clinic
S13
14:00
Student Clinical Teaching
7th Floor ICH
16:00
Neurosurgical/Neurology WR
Thursday
08:30
Development Outreach visits/
Developmental Clinic
S6
08:30
Combined Neuro/HIV Clinic
S27
13:00
Neurology Research Meeting
S25
14:00
Registrar Lecture/Research
7th Floor ICH
Friday
08:30
Ward Round
12:00
Case Presentations
D3
13:00
Registrar Supervision
14:00
Report preparation
Research Interests
Departmental research spans involvement in projects investigation aspects of cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders as well as the genetic disorders associated with developmental problems. In particular there is specific interest in developmental disabilities as they manifest in resource limited settings such as South Africa. Specific interests include the preventable causes of neurodisability such as alcohol and methamphetamine exposure, organophosphate poisoning and the neurological and neurocognitive complications of HIV.
