Charlie Fairhurst

Consultant in paediatric neurodisability

Area of expertise: children's physical neurodisability, movement disorders.

Biography

Charlie Fairhurst is head of children's neurosciences at Evelina London.

He works in a number of specialist teams involved in the management of children with motor difficulties, in particular cerebral palsy. In combination with our orthopaedic teams and gait analysis laboratory, they ensure that children are provided with comprehensive movement therapy at all ages and stages of ability.

Charlie is very experienced in the management of these difficulties, in particular the use of Botulinum Toxin A (Botox) in this group of children, to improve upper and lower limb function, comfort, care, and reduce saliva loss. He is the UK representative on a number of international working parties and is currently the chair of the national NICE guidelines in cerebral palsy.

He sits on the executive boards of the British Academy of Childhood Disability and the British Paediatric Neurology Association and is the chair of the RCPCH’s Specialist Advisory Committee on Neurodisability.

Charlie is a trustee of Whizz-Kidz and works closely with a large number of other charities that work to support children and their families.

Further information

C Fairhurst. Cerebral Palsy the whys and hows. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract 2012; 97: 122-131

J Parr, C Buswell, K Banerjee, C Fairhurst et al. Management of drooling in children: a survey of UK paediatricians’ clinical practice. Child Care, Health and Development 2012; 38(2): 287-291

Book - E. Barnes, C Fairhurst. Handbook of Hemiplegia. MacKeith Press. Dec 2011

C Fairhurst, H Cockerill. Management of drooling in children. Arch Dis Child 2011; 96(1): 25-30.

C Lundy, G Doherty, C Fairhurst. Botulinum toxin type A injections can be an effective treatment for pain in children with hip spasms and cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 2009; 51(9): 705-710.

F Heinen, K Desloovere, S Schroeder, S Berweck, C Fairhurst et al. The updated European Consensus 2009 on the use of Botulinum toxin for children with cerebral palsy. Eur J Paed Neurol 2009; 30: 1-22

C Lundy, D Lumsden, C Fairhurst. Treating complex movement disorders in children with cerebral palsy. Ulster Med J 2009; 78(3): 157-163.

F Heinen, G Molenaers, C Fairhurst et al. European Consensus table 2006 on Botulinum toxin for children with cerebral palsy. Eur J Paed Neurol 2006; 10(5-6): 215-225.

M Gough, C Fairhurst, A Shortland. Botulinum toxin and cerebral palsy; time for reflection. Dev Med Child Neurol 2005; 47(10): 709-712.