Development of subspecialty cognitive behavioural neurology for the West of Scotland

<h3></h3> There is increasing recognition of the overlap between conditions presenting with symptoms of cognitive and behavioural change that might present to different specialties. There is also considerable variability regionally regarding the provision for such patients within regional neurology services. With increasing recognition of potentially treatable and reversible causes of such presentations including autoimmune encephalopathies, epilepsy &amp; metabolic conditions, there is a need for smooth &amp; timely interaction between services for such patients. In addition, younger patients where the differential diagnosis for such a presentation is likely to be broad, patients with potential neurological or genetic causes and those with associated neurological symptoms (including seizures or movement disorders) may also require neurological input. However, some patients might be better served within alternative services including mental health; capacity within neurology services remains challenging and so it is important to ensure the patients that might most benefit are able to access neurological input promptly. We describe the process of development of a Cognitive Neurology MDT to facilitate input for those patients who may most benefit without overwhelming capacity pressures within Neurology. In addition, we describe the clinical characteristics of the initial patient cohort.