Contact details

• Telephone: (08) 7074 0000 to contact on call RAH Neurosurgical registrar or fellow or for general enquiries.
• Fax number for referrals: (08) 7074 6247
• Outpatient call centre: (08) 7117 3007
• Wayfinding: RAH Neurosurgery outpatient clinics: 3F 186.10

Urgent referrals

For urgent referrals, please contact RAH switchboard: (08) 7074 000 and ask for the Neurosurgery registrar/fellow on call to discuss your concerns.

Our registrars are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Patients who are unstable and requiring immediate assessment should be sent directly to the Emergency Department after contacting the Neurosurgery registrar/fellow via RAH switchboard on (08) 7074 0000.

Referral process and triage

All referrals to Neurosurgery outpatient clinics are assessed to determine urgency. Referrals are assessed to ensure patients are seen / assessed in clinically appropriate time frames based on triage category. All referrals to this service MUST contain the following:

• A clear outline of symptoms
• A clear summary of medical history and the history of the current complaint
• A clear outline of physical examination findings. This MUST include an outline of the patient’s neurological examination findings and a clear outline of any neurological deficit
• A report outlining RECENT radiological examination. A CT scan or MRI is preferable where indicated and where possible. Note there is a Medicare item for some GP initiated brain and cervical spine MRI scans.
• Copies of any previous specialist’s letters or reports, relating to the current compliant

NOTE: The following should be directed immediately to the RAH Emergency department:

• Subarachnoid haemorrhage
• Brain tumours associated with midline shift, hydrocephalus or severe neurological deficits
• Spinal cord compression with severe or rapidly progressive neurological deficit
• Acute Cauda Equina Syndrome
• Blocked or infected VP shunt
• First epileptic seizure
• Mass lesion (tumour or abscess) on CT/MRI with headache, increasing drowsiness, increasing weakness and vomiting

Urgent cases can be discussed with the Neurosurgery on call registrar or fellow by telephone: (08) 7074 000

Consultants (alphabetical order)

• Associate Prof. Amal Abou-Hamden
• Dr Xenia Doorenbosch
• Dr Simon Sandler (Head of unit)
• Dr Stephen Santoreneos
• Dr Adam Wells
• Associate Prof. Andrew Zacest

On call Registrar/Fellow

Call RAH switchboard (08) 7074 000

Expected waiting time

Visit the SA Health specialist outpatient waiting time report web page

Outpatient Information

The Department of Neurosurgery provides specialist services for patients with brain, spine and peripheral nerve disorders who are referred for assessment by a medical practitioner, and via internal referrals.

Neurosurgery offers a service to all patients residing across the metropolitan/country local health networks (LHNs) and some adjacent regions of New South Wales and Victoria for whom SA services are more accessible.

Conditions commonly managed by Neurosurgery

• Spinal disorders
• Radiculopathy
• Spinal claudication
• Tumours
• Cervical/thoracic myelopathy
• Cauda Equina Syndrome
• Brain and peripheral nerve disorders:-
• Brain tumour
• Peripheral nerve tumour
• Peripheral nerve entrapment ( e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve compression)
• Vascular lesions (e.g. Arteriovenous malformations/Aneurysms)
• Hydrocephalus
• Chiari malformation
• Arachnoid cysts
• Head injury
• Trigeminal neuralgia and other cranial nerve abnormalities