The Spina Bifida service offers consultancy and specialised rehabilitation care for children and young people that have a functional impairment and/or complex healthcare needs due to a Neural Tube Defect such as Spina Bifida (myelomeningocele) or a Tethered Cord. 

The service aims to provide ongoing education for the child and their family to prevent and recognise problems before they arise. Some of these issues include bladder and bowel dysfunction, lower limb weakness and sensory impairment, scoliosis, and cognitive difficulties. 

Our team includes a rehabilitation physician, clinical nurse consultant, social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, clinical psychologist and various subspecialty surgeons. We provide antenatal counselling, inpatient management of newborns with Spina Bifida, developmental assessments, home visits and school liaison, and coordinated transition to adult health care services. 

All clients in the Spina Bifida service are periodically seen for a multidisciplinary rehabilitation assessment to review their progress at home and school. 

The Spina Bifida clinic runs each Friday (all day) in the Children’s Assessment Centre on Level 3. Appointments last approximately 1 hour. Medical imaging (x-ray, ultrasounds, MRI etc) required to complete the review may need to be completed on a separate day prior to the clinic visit.

Parents and carers are asked to attend the clinic with their child and bring any relevant medical, therapy and school reports with them as well as all their child’s usual walking aids or splints.