The Department of Neurosurgery at Queen Square is among the oldest and largest in the world. Founded by Sir Victor Horsley, the pioneer of modern neurosurgery, it continues to be ranked among the top ten neurosurgical centres globally and the leading centre in the United Kingdom. 

The department provides a comprehensive neurosurgical service covering the full range of cranial and spinal conditions. In addition to serving the local population, it delivers national and international care through dedicated subspecialist surgical services in epilepsy surgery, functional surgery, hydrocephalus surgery, neuro-oncology, pituitary and skull base surgery, vascular neurosurgery, complex spine surgery, and gamma knife radiosurgery.

Patients are managed collaboratively with colleagues in neurology and other related specialties, ensuring truly multidisciplinary care. 

Teaching and training are central to the department’s mission. The Queen Square Simulation Centre provides world-class education in neuroscience, offering the largest dedicated simulation facility of its kind in the UK and welcoming neurosurgeons, trainees, and multidisciplinary teams from across the globe. The department also runs an international exchange programme with the Department of Neurosurgery at Columbia University, supporting shared training, research, and innovation.. 

Academic activity benefits from close links with the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and other university partners. Research spans discovery science, technology development, and clinical trials, ensuring the department remains at the forefront of innovation and clinical excellence. 

Patient contact

General enquiries

Other contact information

Patient contact
For referrals and new appointments:
Tel: 020 3456 7890
Email: uclh.referrals.qsappointments@nhs.net

For follow up appointments and general enquiries:
Tel: Please contact the telephone numbers listed under the individual consultants
Email: uclh.neurosurgery.admin@nhs.net

For private patient enquiries:
Tel: 020 3448 4260 (option 3)
Email: uclh.privateconsultingrooms@nhs.net

If your enquiry relates to medical imaging or neuroradiology please contact the team on:
Email: uclh.enquiry.nhnmrapp@nhs.net
Tel: 020 3448 3440

GP and medical enquiries
Tel: Please contact the telephone numbers listed under the individual consultants
Email: uclh.neurosurgery.admin@nhs.net
Referrals: uclh.referrals.qsappointments@nhs.net

Management team
General manager: Huw Thomas - h.thomas27@nhs.net
Service manager: Aisha Banwait - a.banwait@nhs.net

Address

Neurosurgery
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Queen Square 
London, WC1N 3BG

Referral

Other referral information

NHS e-Referral Service (formerly Choose and Book referrals)

Choose and Book enquiries:
uclh.chooseandbook@nhs.net

For specialists

Once a patient has been diagnosed with MSCC, the referrer should visit www.referapatient.org. When the referrer is logged on, they will be able to refer the patient by submitting the online referral form. At this point, the images should be sent via Image Exchange Portal to UCLH.

The referrer should then call the co-ordinator on 07903 531 674. This number is available 24/7. The co-ordinator will be in touch within 2 hours of receiving all relevant information.

If the patient requires surgery, a bed will be ring-fenced for the patient and the team will be on stand-by to receive the patient. The co-ordinator will let the referrer know the location of this bed.

The referring hospital will be responsible for making appropriate transport arrangements for transfer of the patient to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery will be responsible for arranging transport at the time of repatriation of the patient following treatment. If you have any queries, please call the co-ordinator on 07903 531 674.

Referral address

Department of Neurosurgery 
The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery 
Queen Square 
London WC1N 3BG

We care for patients with:

  • Spine disease
  • Vestibular schwannoma
  • Glioblastoma, metastases and other brain cancers
  • Aneurysms, cerebral arterio-venous malformations and other vascular diseases
  • Epilepsy
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Intracerebral haemorrhage
  • Meningiomas
  • Movement disorders
  • Trigeminal neuralgia 

Outpatient follow-up takes place at six to eight weeks. Continued follow-up is tailor made to patient needs.

Consultants

Other neurology and neurosurgery services