Best MVD Surgeons in London
Posted , 2 users are following.
My partner has been assigned Prof McEvoy, London to carry out MVD for HFS, has anyone had the operation / knows of any experience with him?
I'm worried that his specialisms (according to his profile) don't mention HFS, although I know he is a world leading neurosurgeon in other areas.
Should we look for someone who specialises in this more? What do others on here think?
We're a bit reluctant to explore anywhere outside of London just in case complications arise, and being hours away from help would be awful.
0 likes, 4 replies
Roseann Guest
Posted
Hi Andy, I've been around this forum and two other Facebook forums (Hemifacial Spasm Worldwide Support Group and Hemifacial Spasm International Support Group) for 6+ years and don't recall anyone having had MVD for HFS with Prof McEvoy. However great a neurosurgeon he is it is best that your partner goes to someone with LOTS of experience in this precise surgery. My own feeling is that the surgeon should have been doing this surgery at least once per month for a number of years before I would let him near me! I would also want to know that his or her success rate is above 80% and that he monitors hearing during the surgery to help prevent one-sided hearing loss. I went from Hampshire to Bristol for my surgery with Nikunj Patel (who is arguably the most experienced MVD for HFS surgeon in the UK). Thankfully I was spasm-free 6 weeks post surgery and have remained so ever since. There are other surgeons in London (Neil Kitchen, Mr Zrinzo, Mr Thorne, Mr Pollard) but I've not heard so many good things about them as I have of Nik Patel. Wishing your partner all the very best. He or she may want to join the FB groups?
Guest Roseann
Posted
Hi Roseann
Thanks for the detailed reply, we will certainly consider going for someone with more experience. My only worry about going to somewhere like Bristol is if some post-op complications arise once we're back home in London, that would be a nightmare scenario I think.
I will look at those surgeons and also Timothy Jones & Henry Marsh at St Georges in London. How exactly can we go about this? Should we speak to our GP first and raise our concerns?
My partner did join the international FB last week, she has only been on once so far.
Roseann Guest
Posted
Hi again Andy
My understanding is that Henry Marsh has now retired but I may be wrong on this. I think Timothy Jones trained under him and has taken over from him but I'm not absolutely certain of this.
I lived 90 miles from Bristol and reasoned that any post op complication would not be so urgent that I couldn't get to Bristol in 2 hours. Our US friends travel thousands of miles to get to the best surgeon and get on planes to do so - I think the distance from London to Bristol wouldn't be too bad in the event of complications. But, I do understand that it's much more convenient to be local.
Your partner will find more UK folk in the Worldwide FB group if she wants to join there too, but the information is possibly better and most up to date in the International group. There are certainly other folk from London in both groups, but more in the Worldwide one.
I believe that there should be patient choice around which consultant/hospital your partner can go to, but you might encounter problems with out of area funding. The GP is a good starting point but it's best to go armed with lots of information to substantiate your partner's choice.
Hope this helps. My real name is Angela and I am an administrator for the International FB group if your partner wants to talk to me within that group. I'm also happy to chat via PM but would need a friend request first please (with some idea of what her name is!).
Wishing you all the best.
Guest Roseann
Posted
Thanks Angela.
My partner Janice joined the International group last week so she's already there.
I've passed on your message to her and i guess she will be in touch if she has any further questions.
(and so will I)!
Best regards
Andrew