What is neuroscience?
The term 'neuroscience' refers collectively to a group of specialist disciplines. The two main specialties are neurology (medical) and neurosurgery (surgical). Along with a range of other specialists, neurologists and neurosurgeons treat people with disorders of the nervous system. These include problems affecting the brain and spinal cord and the nerves and muscles in the rest of the body.
Disorders of the nervous system are quite common. Not all are serious and many can be dealt with locally, in primary care and in the community. Some people will need to be referred to a secondary care facility, like a local hospital, and some who need more specialist care will have to go to a neuroscience centre.
The wide range of individual conditions and types of care that people might need mean that services have to be carefully organised at all levels to make sure that the right care and treatment is available at the right time.
A national Neuroscience Implementation Group have been reviewing neuroscience services in Scotland. The report from the group is now available: Report of the Neuroscience Implementation Group