• If the patient is from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex or Cambridge, and within 4 hours of diagnosis of SCI to MTC (or TU), contact the NCS on 0300 330 3999 and request contact be made with Stoke Mandeville Hospital (or Stanmore) via the single point of contact referral number 0844 892 1915. Referral data must then be completed online via nww.spinalreferrals.nhs.uk
• If the patient is from Norfolk, Suffolk or northern Cambridgeshire, and within 4 hours of admission to MTC (or TU), contact the NCS on 0300 330 3999 and request contact be made with diagnosis of SCI to Sheffield SCIC by calling 0114 243 4343 and asking to speak to the duty spinal cord injury consultant Written referral must then be faxed to 0114 271 5649.
• Involve physiotherapists immediately – particularly for chest management.
• Undertake accurate pre (and post) surgery ASIA scoring.