Dr Aaron De Souza has accepted a job as a permanent full-time neurologist at the LGH.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said Dr De Souza had “expressed his intention to take up the position as soon as possible”.

“His date of commencement is subject to the Tasmanian Health Service facilitating the relevant college’s approval of a peer process, [including] that he be supervised for six to 12 months,” Mr Ferguson said.

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It comes after the North and North-West’s only full-time neurologist, Dr Kurien Koshy, left the state after six years at the LGH.

He told The Examiner in June last year his cries for help were ignored by the state government.

Mr Ferguson said the THS was working to facilitate Dr De Souza’s supervision at the LGH, as well as the necessary migration steps, to enable his move to Launceston.

“With more than 15 years of experience as a medical practitioner, Dr De Souza is deeply involved in clinical research,” he said.

“[He has] nearly 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals and two books to his credit.

“Dr De Souza is a reviewer for eight neurology journals, and in 2014, he received an international research award from the International League Against Epilepsy.”

Mr Ferguson said Dr De Souza had an interest in epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, toxic disorders of the nervous system, and the electrophysiology of diabetic neuropathy.

“We look forward to Dr De Souza’s arrival and his provision of services to the people with neurological conditions in Northern Tasmania.”

Dr De Souza is currently working as a consultant neurologist in Cornwall.

It is understood general practitioners have been unable to refer patients to a neurologist north of Hobart since Dr Koshy’s departure.

The day after Dr Koshy spoke to The Examiner about his resignation, the state government announced two neurologists would be recruited in the state’s North.

Mr Ferguson said on Thursday progress on the recruitment of a second neurologist at the LGH was also progressing.