The Manchester neuro-oncology service, hosted at Salford Royal Hospital (part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust) in partnership with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, has again been recognised as a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for the care and treatment of patients with brain and spinal tumours.

Brain tumours affect more than 11,000 adults in the UK every year and kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer. The service, which receives more than 2,000 new referrals and carries out approximately 450 operations per year, was praised for its excellent clinical practice and patient-centred approach.

An expert panel interviewed members of the team at Salford Royal and The Christie as part of the assessment. They identified key strengths including:

• an innovative rehabilitation model with exemplary integration with community services across a large geographical network

• a comprehensive approach to palliative care

• outstanding neuropsychology provision

• robust care for patients with low-grade gliomas

• extensive staff training

• a substantial portfolio of clinical trials and an outstanding portfolio of basic/translational research

The multidisciplinary team has a strong commitment to research and has well-established links with The University of Manchester, the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, and organisations further afield. A range of ongoing research projects is underway, and dedicated research teams work closely with clinicians. They are also involved in many clinical trials, offering patients the opportunity to enrol in innovative new treatments.

About Dame Tessa

Dame Tessa Jowell, who died from a malignant brain tumour in 2018, led a call to action for lasting change for all brain tumour patients. She asked for all patients to benefit from the latest and greatest science and called for a focus on living well with cancer, not just dying from it.

As a result, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) was founded to provide a national body for all stakeholders engaged in brain tumour research, treatment, and patient advocacy.

Highest standards

Tina Karabatsou, consultant neurosurgeon and clinical lead for neuro-oncology at Salford Royal Hospital, said: “This recent award gives us enormous pride and strength to continue offering the best, up-to-date and prompt treatment for our patients who suffer from these life-changing brain and spinal tumours. We hope the commitment and dedication of all members of the team also provide reassurance to our patients that we always strive to achieve the highest standards of care, while listening to and attending to their needs and concerns.”

Professor Catherine McBain, consultant clinical oncologist at The Christie, added: “The work of Dame Tessa Jowell, her family, and the amazing team at the TJBCM has raised the bar in all aspects of brain tumour care. We are privileged to be part of that Mission and are delighted to accept this award.

“For us, it recognises the work of all the individual members of our amazing multi-disciplinary team, but we also see it as recognition of our ongoing commitment to improve treatment and care for all those affected by brain tumours.
We continue to pursue laboratory research into earlier and faster diagnosis, clinical trials including novel pre-operative therapies, and dynamic models of rehabilitation and supportive care.”

Specialised and individualised rehabilitation

The partnership between The Christie and Salford Royal Hospital has a unique approach to supporting rehabilitation for patients with complex neuro-oncology needs, including brain tumour patients.

A team of specialist allied health professionals (AHPs) working across the sites play a crucial role in supporting patients with rare and challenging brain and spinal tumours. These patients require highly specialised and individualised rehabilitation across their treatment pathway.

The specialist AHP team provide input into multi-disciplinary team meetings, conduct patient assessments, delives support, advice, signposting and referrals to other services, provids patient and family support, suppors complex discharge from hospitals, liaise with hospital and community teams, and arrange rehabilitation support.

The team tailored training sessions to upskill the rehabilitation workforce. They have delivered training to more than 22 teams across Greater Manchester, including acute inpatient units, community neuro-rehabilitation, hospice and palliative care teams, speech and language teams, and the voluntary sector.

Lindsay Sudell, a specialist AHP for brain tumour rehabilitation, said: “In Manchester, we recognise the importance to our patients of providing a specialist team that works across both The Christie and Salford Royal, providing a seamless service that integrates with community services. It means we can give patients the best possible experience and deliver patient-centred care.”

Kindness and compassion

On naming the neuro-oncology service a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence, the panel said: “Above all, Salford and The Christie embody a human-centred culture of kindness and compassion, providing wraparound holistic care, and we are proud to have Salford and The Christie as ambassadors for the Tessa Jowell Network.”

The service is one of 14 Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence announced at an awards ceremony at the Francis Crick Institute. These awards demonstrate the outstanding commitment of NHS teams to driving innovation and elevating care, even in a tightly funded landscape.

Teams representing each of these networks were presented with their awards by Jess Mills, Tessa Jowell’s daughter and TJBCM co-founder. Reflecting on the newly awarded centres, Jess said: “Mum’s legacy to transform outcomes for brain cancer patients across the UK has reached another huge milestone. It has been so moving to witness how committed the teams caring for patients are to come on this journey with us.”

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