Article
All about autoimmune encephalitis
Here, renowned consultant neurologist, Dr James Varley, shares his expertise with regards ...
Professional statement
Dr James Varley is a consultant neurologist in central London with expertise in multiple sclerosis (MS), autoimmune encephalitis, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), MOG antibody disease (MOGAD), inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, headaches, migraine and epilepsy. He privately practises at Imperial College Healthcare Private Care, while his NHS base is Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Dr Varley completed his medical degree with a distinction and intercalated BMedSci (Hons) at the University of Edinburgh, followed by clinical training at Imperial and UCLH. He went on to complete a DPhil in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, where he published widely and presented internationally on various aspects of clinical and lab based neuroimmunology, winning a number of prizes for this work. He gained membership of the Royal College of Physicians in 2014 and undertook specialist training in neurology at leading UK centres. He continues to be active academically, involved in clinical research, immunology and clinical trials. He is a regular reviewer for a number of neurology journals.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr Varley is actively involved in education and has delivered talks for the Neurology Academy. He is committed to providing clear, personalised care, helping patients understand their diagnosis and treatment options while using the latest advances in neurological medicine to optimise their outcome.
Clinics
Imperial College Healthcare Private Care
Medical insurances accepted
Credentials
Professional experience
- 15 years of experience
- Consultant neurologist, Imperial College Healthcare Private Care
Subspecialties
- Autoimmune encephalitis
- Neuromyelitis optica (NMO)
Professional memberships
- MRCP, Royal College of Physicians (2014)
Education
- DPhil, Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford (2015 - 2019)
- MB ChB (Hons), The University of Edinburgh (2005 - 2011)
Teaching posts
- Speaker, Neurology Academy
Languages spoken
- English
Registration number: 7132054
Content
Health content
Other information
Reviews
All reviews are from real patients and have been verified by our Customer Service department to ensure they meet our guidelines. Rules of the service
- Would you recommend this doctor?
- Treatment of the doctor
- Treatment of the staff
- Waiting time
- Condition of facilities
- Dr Varley is very knowledgeable and he really takes time to listen to his patients, no question is ridiculous and he explains everything so someone with little medical knowledge understands. I would recommend him to anyone with neuro related issues.
- As a young woman recently diagnosed with MS, I cannot recommend Dr Varley highly enough. He takes me seriously and has never let me minimise my own symptoms. He explains complex information with rare clarity and warmth, tailored exactly to my concerns. He offers clear guidance but never decides for me. In a moment where it would be so easy to feel powerless, he has given me agency. I am immensely grateful, and feel a genuine sense of relief simply from being in his care + trust him completely.
- Dr. Varley is welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable. I really appreciated the time and care he took verifying the diagnosis, explaining the condition and options for treatment, and pointing me in the direction of support resources. Would definitely recommend & thank you again :)
- An absolutely excellent doctor. Doesn’t rush through appointments and gives first class advice.
- Dr Varley is very friendly and professional. He spends as much time with you as needed and the appointment doesn’t feel rushed. He is quick to respond to queries in an emergency
- I went to see this consultant following several recommendations and can fully understand why. I was anxious, but his calm, kind, and reassuring manner immediately put me at ease. He was straight to the facts, answered all my questions clearly, and guided me onto the right path, including recommending helpful resources to read. The whole experience was very well organised, with excellent communication and genuinely helpful support throughout, which made a stressful situation much easier