Please select from the following specialist services
Top of the South Respiratory care is provided by Sankar Ramakrishnan who is a respiratory consultant and Nelson Marlborough DHB.
Having completed a primary medical degree in India he completed his post graduate training in the UK and Australia before completing his training in Wellington Hospital.
Please note, referral by your GP is required for an appointment.
How to Contact Respiratory
Please use the form below or email respiratory@topofthesouthclinic.nz for all non urgent general inquiries
If urgent please call 021 0844 1141
Respiratory services available
Spirometry
Full Lung Function Testing
Exhaled Nitric Oxide measurements
Pulse Oximetry and Oxygen assessments
Arterial blood gas analysis
Chest X-Rays
CT Scan and PET scan
Bronchoscopy
Sleep apnoea and snoring investigations
Why see a respiratory specialist
- Bronchial Asthma
- Obstructive airways disease
- Unexplained Cough
- Bronchiectasis
- Sarcoidosis
- Interstitial lung disease and lung cancer
- Pleural Effusion / Pleural diseases/
- Mesothelioma, Asbestosis
- Diagnosis and management of sleep apnoea
Top of the South Neurology is headed by Dr Desiree Fernandez MB BCh BAO MRCP(UK) MD FRACP Desiree is a neurologist with a special interest in headache disorders. She graduated from University College Cork (National University of Ireland) in 1996. She moved to the UK to undertake her basic medical training before moving back to Ireland to complete her advanced training in Neurology. She performed her MD research on the genetics of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine and was awarded a prize for presentation of her work at the Irish Neurological Association meeting. She moved to New Zealand in 2013. She is the only Neurologist in Nelson Marlborough DHB. She also works in Capital and Coast DHB (Wellington Hospital) as a headache specialist.
Please note, referral by your GP is required for an appointment.
How to Contact Neurology
Please the form below or email neurology@topofthesouthclinic.nz for all non urgent inquiries
If urgent please call 0210598818
Neurological conditions commonly referred
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuropathy
- Muscle disorders
- Headache (including migraine, cluster headache, vestibular migraine and others)
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
- Tremor
- Neurological opinion for Immigration matters
- Neurological opinion for vehicle licensing
- Non-specific neurological symptoms which do not have a clear diagnosis yet
Investigative Services available
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Computerised Tomography (CT)
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
Top of the South Internal Medicine is headed by Dr Suzanne Busch BHB MBChB FRACP. She is a dual trained Internal Medicine Specialist and Geriatrician with a special interest in Neurology affecting older people.
She completed her medical training in Auckland and Sydney becoming a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 2000. Prior to moving to Nelson in 2010 she worked as a medical specialist in Auckland (2000-2004) and Wairau Hospital (2004-2010). She currently works as a specialist physician in Nelson hospital and is the lead stroke clinician for Nelson Marlborough DHB. She has been an educational supervisor of junior doctors for more than 15 years and currently sits on the Medical Council of New Zealand Education Committee.
Please note, referral by your GP or nurse practitioner is required for an appointment.
How to Contact General Medicine
Please the form below or email medspec@topofthesouthclinic.nz for all non urgent general inquiries
If urgent please call 0272295860
Typical referrals accepted by Suzanne
- Dizziness and funny turns
- Cognitive decline and dementia
- Parkinson's disease or tremor
- Functional neurology symptoms
- General medical problems including unexplained medical symptoms
- Specialist assessments for driving
- Immigration matters
- Medical insurance work up
Older patients with
- In need of a comprehensive geriatric assessment
- Gait or balance problems
- Complex medical problems
- Falls and osteoporosis assessment
- Review of medications
- Assessment of capability including EPOAs
Investigative Services Available
You may be referred for the following as needed
Radiology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Computerised Tomography (CT)
- Ultrasound
Cardiology with or without specialist cardiology review as required
- ECG monitoring (24h or 7day)
- Cardiac ultrasound
- 24h Blood pressure analysis
Respiratory tests with or without specialist respiratory review
- Lung function tests
OUTPATIENT CLINIC LOCATIONS
NELSON HOSPITAL
Medical Outpatient Department, Level 4
MANUKA STREET HOSPITAL
36 Manuka Street, Nelson, Nelson East 7010
Please note that our administration staff are not based at the clinical centres. Please contact them by email (preferable) or phone if urgent. On site clinical teams are not able to help you with anything more than general inquiries
