Two Merseyside hospital trusts have retained their status as a centre of excellence for the treatment of brain cancer.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and The Walton Centre, along with the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre, have retained Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status, highlighting the trusts’ outstanding patient care and expertise in brain tumour treatment and research.
The trio form the Liverpool and North Wales Neuro-Oncology Network, and were announced alongside 13 other UK centres at an award ceremony at the Francis Crick Institute last night.
The Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status was first launched in 2020 following the death of Dame Tessa Jowell, Labour MP and former Culture Secretary who was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2017.
Centres awarded the status this year have met even higher standards of brain tumour treatment and care.
Dr Shaveta Mehta, Deputy Director of Clinical Research and a Consultant Clinical Oncologist who specialises in neuro-oncology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (CCC), said: “The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has been a centre of expertise for the treatment of brain tumours in the region for many years and provides the highest standard of care for patients and their families dealing with such a difficult diagnosis.
Dr Shaveta Mehta (third from left) with Professor
Michael Jenkinson (fourth from left) at the Tessa
Jowell Centre of Excellence award ceremony
“Our reaccreditation as a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence further cements our commitment to providing the best possible patient care and access to the latest clinical trials. It is a reflection of the hard work and commitment of our team.”
Consultant neurosurgeon Professor Michael Jenkinson, who leads neuro-oncology research at The Walton Centre, said: “I’m delighted that the network has been reaccredited by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM). I am privileged to work with some amazing people who are all striving to improve clinical services for the benefit of brain tumour patients.”
The Liverpool Network joined NHS teams from across the UK to be recognised for the excellent treatment, care and research they provide to patients with a brain tumour, following a review process led by a committee of NHS and patient experts.
Lisa Hefford, 53, is from Birkdale, near Southport. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2024 and has received care at both The Walton Centre and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. Lisa said: “My experience at both hospitals has been outstanding. I spent time at The Walton Centre when I was going through lots of diagnostic tests, including a brain biopsy. The team were incredible; they are experts in their field.
"The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has been treating me and I’m currently on a clinical trial. My treatment has been going well and the team, including Dr Mehta, have been so supportive and fighting my corner. I’m at a loss for words at the amazing care I’ve received from both hospitals.”
Chloë May from CCC (middle)
Ashley Leech, 41 from Leyland near Preston, is a patient of both The Walton Centre and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. Ashley was diagnosed with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that increases the risk of benign and malignant tumours in various parts of the body, including the brain, in 2005. Since then, Ashley has had numerous surgical interventions and radiotherapy. He’s recently joined a drug trial led by the network, which is shrinking his brain tumours.
Ashley said: “My surgeons are gobsmacked. I’m grateful for being able to join the trial and have it work well so far. The care I’ve received at both The Walton Centre and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has been exceptional.
"Throughout my life they have been looking after me, helping me manage my tumours with surgeries and radiotherapy, and now being able to offer new treatments. Most importantly, they’ve been working together to offer me the best care and treatment available in the NHS.”
Professor Michael Jenkinson (Walton)
In each centre, the whole team treating brain tumours, from surgeons and nurses through to physiotherapists, oncologists, palliative care specialists and researchers, came together to undergo a thorough assessment of their services. Centres awarded were deemed by a panel of experts to meet the high standards of excellence in areas including clinical care, quality of life care and access to clinical trials / research.
Chair of the TJBCM Professor Richard Gilbertson said: “The Centre of Excellence programme continues to give us an unprecedented view of the treatment, care and research of brain tumours in the UK; we now know better than ever where the NHS is excelling, but also where we need to come together to collectively address national challenges.”
For more information on the Mission, go to: https:/
