Specialty care
Brain and spine
In April 2025 our neurosurgeons performed the first lumbar disc replacement in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean. They work with an MRI scanner a short walk from the operating theatre.
Overview
- Regional first
- Lumbar disc replacement, 2025
- MRI
- GE Signa 1.5T
- Operating rooms
- Four
Neurosurgeons operate on the brain, spine and nerves. Neurologists diagnose and treat conditions of the nervous system with medicine and other non-surgical care. Many patients see both.
On April 11, 2025, a team led by Dr J. Geoffrey Liburd, Chief of Neurosurgery, replaced a worn disc in a patient’s lower back with an artificial one that keeps the spine moving. The patient was walking without pain within two days. Until then, patients in the region who wanted this operation had to travel for it.
Conditions these specialists treat
Specialists in this field look after patients with:
- Back and neck pain that hasn’t settled with treatment
- Slipped (herniated) discs and sciatica
- Narrowing of the spinal canal
- Brain and spinal tumours
- Head and spinal injuries
- Stroke and its after-effects
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Migraine and other headache disorders
- Nerve pain, numbness and weakness
A general list for this field of medicine. Ask a specialist’s office whether they treat your condition.
Care on this campus
- MRI and CT
MRI gives the detailed pictures of the brain and spinal cord that surgeons and neurologists depend on. Ours opened in January 2025.
Imaging and MRI- Spine and brain surgery
Operations take place in our four-room operating theatre, with nursing care afterwards on the surgical units of the Tai Wing.
Surgery at Andrews- Emergency care
Head injuries and suspected strokes are seen in Accident & Emergency at any hour.
Accident & Emergency
Come to A&E now if you notice
- A drooping face, a weak arm or slurred speech, even if it passes
- The worst headache of your life, coming on suddenly
- A seizure in someone who has never had one
- Back pain with numbness between the legs or loss of bladder or bowel control
These can be signs of a stroke, a bleed or pressure on the spinal cord. Minutes matter.
Our specialists
10 consultants across these fields hold practising privileges at Andrews. To book, call the consultant’s office or the hospital on (876) 926-7401.
Neurosurgery
In the directory- Dr Carl Bruce
- Dr James Liburd
- Dr Duane Patten
- Dr Kevin Wade
- Dr Dwight Webster
Neurology
In the directory- Dr Amza Ali
- Dr Peter Charles
- Dr Daniel Graham
- Dr Michele Lee
Paediatric Neurology
In the directory- Dr Judy Tapper
Questions people ask
Does back pain usually need surgery?
No. Most back pain improves with time, movement and physiotherapy. Surgeons consider an operation when pain persists for months, when a nerve is being squeezed, or when there is weakness or numbness.
What should I bring to a neurosurgery appointment?
Bring your referral letter, a list of your medicines, and any scans you have had, on disc or film, with the written reports.
I have metal in my body. Can I have an MRI?
Often yes, but tell the imaging team before your scan. Pacemakers, some aneurysm clips and some implants are not safe in an MRI scanner, and the team will check each one.
Further reading
- Stroke: act FASTFour letters that help you spot a stroke, and what to do in the first minutes.
- Getting ready for a scanMRI, CT, ultrasound and X-ray: what each one is for, how to prepare and what it feels like.
- Getting ready for surgeryWhat to do in the weeks, days and hours before an operation, and what to arrange for afterwards.
In the news
Brain and spine at Andrews
Andrews Memorial makes history with first lumbar disc replacement in the English-speaking CaribbeanIn a groundbreaking medical milestone for Jamaica and the wider English-speaking Caribbean, Andrews Memorial Hospital Limited (AMH) successfully performed the region’s first lumbar (lower…Read the story 
Andrews Memorial Hospital strengthens Jamaica’s healthcare with launch of MRI and cardiac cath servicesIn a monumental stride toward strengthening Jamaica’s healthcare landscape, Andrews Memorial Hospital (AMH) officially launched its Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Cardiac…Read the story Ready to see a specialist?
Search the directory by name or specialty, or call and we’ll point you in the right direction.