We only accept referrals from doctors for Scottish patients eligible for treatment by the National Health Service. If you are a patient and think you require help from our service, please contact your GP to discuss your concerns.
National policy is to triage all newly injured patients at the local Emergency Department to treat life and limb-threatening conditions. This should be followed by assessment and early treatment of the spinal injury by a Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedics or Neurosurgery. A summary of the pathway can be found here.
After life and limb-threatening injuries have been treated we recommend that the treating doctor uses this form as a guide to contact the National Spinal Injuries Unit. If paralysis is present then this form with explanatory notes provides a useful guide to the neurological examination. The doctor on call for the National Spinal Injuries Unit can be contacted 24/7 at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital switchboard on 0141 201 1100, page 17012. Non-urgent referrals may be posted or emailed to:spinal.unit@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
We recommend that the Transfer Checklist is used as a guide to safe transfer. Transport is the responsibility of the Scottish Ambulance Service but transfer of unwell or remote patients may be discussed with EMRS. We will discuss all transfers with the referring team before patient movement.