Neurology & Sleep Consultation
Consultant assessment of neurological and sleep symptoms, on-island in Jersey
Your consultant
Dr. Oliver Bernath
MD, AASM, ESRS, DGSM
- Appointment
- Consultation and examination
- Anaesthetic
- None
- Downtime
- None
- Availability
- Scheduled visiting clinic dates
What happens at a neurology and sleep consultation?
A neurology consultation is a diagnostic appointment rather than a procedure. Most neurological problems are identified from the history: what the symptom is, when it started, how it has changed, what makes it better or worse, and what else has been going on. That takes time, which is why the appointment is unhurried and why you are asked to bring previous letters, scans and a list of your medication.
The consultation covers the full range of general neurology, including headache and migraine, memory and cognitive change, Parkinson’s disease and tremor, epilepsy and blackouts, and peripheral neuropathy, alongside a specialist sleep medicine practice covering insomnia, excessive sleepiness, obstructive sleep apnoea, restless legs and the parasomnias.
You are seen by Dr Oliver Bernath, a consultant neurologist and sleep physician on the GMC Specialist Register, who travels to Jersey for scheduled clinics. The purpose is to reach a diagnosis you understand and a plan you can act on, so you leave with an explanation of what is happening and a letter to your GP.
Why patients choose Neurology & Sleep Consultation
- Consultant neurologist assessment in Jersey, without travelling off-island for a first opinion
- An unhurried appointment, because neurological diagnosis rests mainly on the history
- Full neurological examination alongside the consultation
- Investigations arranged only where the result will change what happens next
- Specialist sleep medicine expertise in the same appointment as general neurology
- A clear explanation of the diagnosis, and a letter to your GP so your care stays joined up
- Second opinions on a diagnosis you have already been given
Anyone with a neurological or sleep symptom that has not been explained, has changed, or is affecting daily life. That includes headaches that have altered in pattern, memory or concentration you are worried about, shaking, blackouts, numbness or tingling, and sleep that leaves you unrefreshed. It is equally suitable if you already have a diagnosis and want your treatment reviewed.
What to expect from Neurology & Sleep Consultation
- Step 1
History
The bulk of the appointment. A detailed account of the symptom, how it began and how it has changed, alongside your general health, medication and family history. Bring previous letters and scans, and if someone has witnessed your symptoms, bring them too: for blackouts and sleep events, a witness account is often more useful than any test.
- Step 2
Examination
A full neurological examination assessing cranial nerves, power, tone, reflexes, sensation, coordination and gait. This is what localises a problem to a particular part of the nervous system and directs which investigations, if any, are worth doing.
- Step 3
Investigation
Arranged only where a result will change the plan. Depending on the problem this may include blood tests, sleep studies, neurophysiology such as nerve conduction studies or EEG, or imaging. Some investigations can be arranged locally and some require referral off-island; this is discussed with you at the appointment.
- Step 4
Diagnosis and plan
An explanation of what is causing your symptoms in plain terms, and a treatment plan, whether that is medication, a change to existing medication, a referral, or reassurance that nothing sinister is going on. A letter goes to your GP, and follow-up is arranged for the next visiting clinic where it is needed.
There is no recovery period after a consultation. If medication is started or changed, you will be told what to expect, how long it takes to work and what side effects to watch for; many neurological treatments, particularly headache preventatives, need several weeks at an adequate dose before they can be judged. If investigations are arranged, you will be told how and when you will get the results. If your symptoms change significantly or something new develops before your follow-up, contact the clinic or your GP rather than waiting for the next visiting date.
Frequently asked questions about Neurology & Sleep Consultation
Do I need a referral from my GP?
You can book directly. That said, bringing a GP referral letter, or any previous clinic letters and scan reports, makes the appointment considerably more useful, because it saves reconstructing a history that has already been taken. With your agreement a letter is sent to your GP afterwards so your records stay complete.
How often are the neurology clinics held?
Dr Bernath travels to Jersey for scheduled clinic dates rather than being on-island continuously. Contact the clinic to find out when he is next here and to secure an appointment, as dates can book up in advance.
What should I bring?
A list of all your medication including doses, any previous clinic letters and scan or test reports, and a note of when your symptoms started and how they have changed. If you have blackouts, seizures or unusual events during sleep, bring someone who has witnessed them if you can. A short diary of headaches or sleep can be more informative than anything else you bring.
Will I have a scan?
Not necessarily, and often not. Scans are useful when the history and examination point to something a scan can show. Many common neurological problems, including most headaches, are diagnosed clinically, and an unnecessary scan can raise incidental findings that cause worry without changing treatment. If a scan is genuinely indicated, it is arranged and explained.
Can I be seen for a sleep problem rather than a neurological one?
Yes. Sleep medicine is a specialist part of the practice, not an afterthought. Insomnia, snoring and suspected sleep apnoea, excessive daytime sleepiness, restless legs, sleepwalking and nightmares are all seen here, and are assessed as clinical problems with identifiable causes rather than as habits to be corrected.
Can I get a second opinion on a diagnosis I already have?
Yes, and it is a common reason for the appointment. Bring everything you have: previous letters, scan reports and the medication you have tried, with what happened on each. A second opinion is most valuable when it can review the full picture rather than start again from nothing.
What if I need treatment that is not available in Jersey?
Where a test or treatment cannot be provided on-island, that is identified at the consultation and the onward route is arranged and explained, rather than left for you to organise. The value of being seen locally is reaching an accurate diagnosis first, so that any travel is for something specific and necessary.
How much does a neurology consultation cost?
Fees are confirmed when you book, and depend on whether the appointment is a first consultation or a follow-up and on any investigations arranged. Please contact the clinic for current fees.
Considering Neurology & Sleep Consultation?
Book a consultation with our specialist team to discuss whether this treatment is right for you.
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