Neurology services — Otago and Southland

Neurology is the study of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves), how it controls various parts of the body and the diseases and disorders that may affect it.


Contact us

Dunedin Hospital

Phone 03 474 0999

Email contactus@southerndhb.govt.nz

Southland Hospital

Phone 03 218 1949


Where to find us

Dunedin Hospital

Street address

201 Great King Street
Dunedin

Postal address

Neurology services
Private Bag 1921
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand

Southland Hospital

Street address

Kew Road
Invercargill

Postal address

Neurology services
PO Box 828
Invercargill 9840
New Zealand


Services we provide

The neurology service for Otago and Southland is mainly done from Dunedin Hospital.

Southland Hospital provides outpatient neurology services. The neurologist has weekly clinics to see new neurology patients and to follow up with existing neurology patients.

Regular outreach clinics are run at the rural hospitals.

Neurological issues can affect:

  • how you think
  • what you can do physically
  • how your body manages itself.

Tests we may do to help diagnose neurology issues include:

  • electroencephalogram (EEG) — a test to detect abnormalities in the electrical activity of the brain
  • nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) — tests the speed of conduction of impulses through a nerve
  • electromyography (EMG) — a test that assesses disorders of muscles and the nerves controlling them
  • lumbar puncture — helpful when diagnosing certain conditions to examine spinal fluid for cells and chemicals or proteins.
  • radiology — CT and MRI scans to identify detailed problems of the brain or spinal cord.

Common neurological conditions we treat include:

  • epilepsy
  • headache
  • motor neurone disease
  • movement disorders including Parkinson's Disease
  • multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • myopathy
  • neuropathy
  • stroke.

Referral information

If your healthcare provider thinks you may have a problem related to your nervous system, they may seek advice and refer you to a neurologist for an opinion.