News

The Walton Centre's brain tumour therapy service has won the Service Innovator award at the latest Macmillan Professional Excellence Awards. 

Co-designed with patients, clinicians, regional partners, and the cancer support charity, the innovative brain tumour therapy service identifies therapy needs from the first neurosurgical appointment, and supports people before, during and after surgery and/or treatment. 

By coordinating referrals, advocating for rehabilitation, and bridging gaps between hospital, oncology, and community services, they are improving quality of life, reducing hospital stays and ensuring more equitable access to care. The team continues to refine the service through ongoing patient feedback and collaboration across the brain tumour pathway. 

Brain Tumour Therapy Coordinator and Occupational Therapist Anne Jammes said: “Patients have been incredibly positive about the service we're providing to them. It's been described as the missing piece of the puzzle in their experience with brain tumours. I'm delighted that we won! It's an amazing affirmation of the work we're doing to enhance patient care at The Walton Centre.”

The Macmillan Professional Excellence Awards started in 2012, celebrating dedication and compassion in improving cancer care in the UK. The Service Innovator award/category recognises those professionals who introduce or enhance services, driving positive and lasting change in cancer care. 

Brain Tumour Therapy Coordinator and Physiotherapist Gary Walsh said: “Since launching the service, we've supported nearly 500 patients on the brain tumour pathway - these patients just wouldn't have been supported in this way previously. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it's fantastic that we won in this category. Hopefully this means we can continue to support patients in this enhanced way.”

Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive Dr Andy Nicolson said: “It's a testament to the therapy team's hard work and dedication to this patient group by winning this award. Staff at The Walton Centre are continuously striving for excellence, and I'm proud that the multidisciplinary team, with support from Macmillan, have been recognised for the huge difference they are making to brain tumour patients coming in for treatment.”

For more information about the brain tumour pathway, head to The Walton Centre's website here.

You can also see a video showcasing their work here.

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Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611

Read Innovative therapy pathway for brain tumour patients wins top Macmillan award…

Helen Rees Leahy was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1997. Over the last 30 years, Helen has worked hard to manage her condition and live as full a life as possible with her symptoms, which affect her mobility, and her physical and mental fatigue.

MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. There is currently no cure, but there are treatments that can slow progression and help ease symptoms.

When moving to North Wales from Manchester in 2020, Helen's care was transferred to The Walton Centre, as she had moved into the specialist Trust's catchment area.

She said: “I remember early on in my diagnosis that there was little they thought they could do to tackle MS other than watch and wait. Nowadays the consensus is that early intervention works better, but that wasn't the case 30 years ago. Over the years I've never qualified for medication or research trials, so I've always tried my best to look after myself.”

During Helen's care at The Walton Centre, Helen became involved in a trial called CHARIOT, which looked at the effectiveness of a drug aiming to slow MS symptoms in the arms and hands.

Helen continued: “It was the first time since my diagnosis where I felt like I was able to gain a bit of agency over my care. Even now, so little is known about MS, and I was delighted that I could take part in a trial to further knowledge and, potentially, treatment.

“It was amazing to be part of the trial, the team at The Walton Centre really made me feel like I was a part of something. Taking part in research has allowed me to feel like an equal part of the team, rather than a recipient, and I couldn't be more grateful for that.”  

Phased over years, the trial involved half of the patient cohort receiving the drug Cladribine, and the other half receiving a placebo. The trial has now moved on to investigate the drug's effectiveness on lower limbs.

The Walton Centre's Neuroscience Research Centre has approximately 60 open studies with 700-1000 patients per year taking part. Studies can cover a wide range of areas. They may involve testing new treatments, collecting data to help us understand conditions better, or exploring ways to improve quality of life for people with certain conditions.

Helen said: “I don't know which I had: the drug or the placebo. But, what mattered to me more was the contribution I was making to the research. It's important that, even if I can't, future patients may benefit from my getting involved, which is a hugely rewarding feeling. I would encourage anyone who can take part in a trial or study to do so, the support and sense of purpose is not to be overstated.

“The Walton Centre has been excellent in supporting me and delivering the care I need over the years. They are only a phone call away, should I feel my condition change or worsen. I'm also incredibly appreciative that they are on the forefront of MS research, and able to recommend involvement in groundbreaking research.”

If you would like to know more about research at The Walton Centre, click here.

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Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611

 

Read ‘Taking part in research has given me an active role in my multiple sclerosis’ MS Awareness Week…

The Walton Centre is pleased to share that Dr Mark Kellett has been appointed to the role of Chief Medical Officer at The Walton Centre.  

Dr Kellett has been a Consultant Neurologist for more than 25 years and Medical Director at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust since 2023. Prior to his role as Medical Director, he was Chair of the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Hospital. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester.

Dr Kellett is familiar with The Walton Centre, having completed his specialist training here in 2000.

Dr Kellett will replace our Medical Director Dr Andy Nicolson, who is leaving the Trust next month to take up the role of Chief Medical Officer at University Hospitals of Liverpool Group. 

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Notes to editors

Further information, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on  0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611

Read New Chief Medical Officer Appointed…

Staff from The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust have been working with Arriva to improve transport links to the hospital and the surrounding area, through their membership of Liverpool Citizens.

The specialist neurosciences trust was a founding member of Liverpool Citizens (part of Citizens UK), which is a broad-based community alliance uniting diverse local organisations across education, health, housing, faith, community and charitable sectors to empower local communities to make sustainable change.  Through listening to our local staff, issues with bus services in the Fazakerley area, where the hospital is located, were identified. The Trust has been leading work to address the issues and deliver improvements alongside the bus operator Arriva.

The Walton Centre's Neuromodulation Co-ordinator, Jonathan Bygroves, has been a key member of staff supporting these efforts. He said: “Over the years, getting the 62 bus to work has always been more stressful and difficult than should have been. When we began working with Liverpool Citizens, I knew this was something we could address together. My colleague Frank Burns and I quickly established that the bus route was limited and unreliable for both staff and patients, which was having a sizeable impact.”

Issues reported by staff and patients included delays, last minute cancellations, and buses too small to accommodate the number of passengers. These issues were put to Arriva at the Founding Assembly of Liverpool Citizens. After subsequent feedback sessions and discussions with Arriva were held, a number of small changes were made to the service, correcting the issues identified.

Jonathan added: “Through Liverpool Citizens, we were able to work with Arriva on the problems we were facing. In the first year we made huge strides and, I think, improved the service on offer.”

Walton Centre staff involved in Liverpool Citizens now have an ongoing relationship with the bus operator, which is leading to further improvements, in particular piloting a new version of their app, which should include better real-time information for passengers.

The Walton Centre's Chief Operating Officer Gary Price said: “It's a testament to our hardworking staff involved in Liverpool Citizens that they have been able to improve the service for our staff and patients so dramatically. Often, we complain about the things that are negatively impacting our lives, but rarely act on it, so it's excellent to see our staff working together with the community to make changes.”

The Trust's Interim Chief People Officer, Jane Mullin, added: “I am proud of the achievements of The Walton Centre staff involved in Liverpool Citizens; they have been able to influence by hard work and dedication an improvement in the service for our staff and patients.”

Tom Sunley, operations director for Arriva Merseyside said: “Working closely with The Walton Centre and Liverpool Citizens has been a brilliant example of what can happen when we all talk to each other. We've been able to respond directly to feedback and make meaningful improvements to services in the Fazakerley area for the people who rely on our services every day.

“We know how important reliable transport is for both staff and patients and these changes are already helping to make journeys simpler and more dependable. We'll continue to work together to build on this and deliver further improvements where we can so we can ensure our services support staff, patients and the wider community.”

For more information on Liverpool Citizens and the work it does, go to: https://www.citizensuk.org/chapters/liverpool-citizens/

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Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange a visit contact: Sam Fleet, External Communications Officer, on 0151 556 3397 or email wcft.communications@nhs.net   

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. 

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611

 

Read Specialist hospital works with community partners to improve bus service in local area…

As part of Women's History Month, we take a look at the life and work of Diana Beck, the UK's first female neurosurgeon, who died 70 years ago this year.

One of The Walton Centre's neurosurgeons, Miss Catherine Gilkes (pictured below right), previously wrote a paper to recognise Miss Beck's achievements after coming across her obituaries in The Times and BMJ during training at Bristol's Frenchay Hospital in 2008.

Miss Gilkes said, “One of the consultants mentioned to me that a woman had founded the unit. I was surprised about that because I'd no idea that was the case, but I had her name and did a bit of digging.”

Diana Beck was elected consultant neurosurgeon at the Middlesex Hospital in 1947, the first woman to have been appointed as such in one of the big London teaching hospitals. Ironically, the hospital did not at the time admit female medical students.

She had graduated in 1925 from the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women and specialised in neurosurgery, training under the neurosurgeon Professor Hugh Cairns in Oxford. At the time, it was a relatively new specialty.

During her 31-year career, she was the only female neurosurgeon in Western Europe and the United States.

Miss Gilkes added, “Diana was pretty remarkable. She set up the neurosurgical unit at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol and at the Middlesex Hospital where she was the first female to be appointed to the staff. At the time it was a completely male consultant body, so she was probably the only female doctor in the establishment.

“When I entered neurosurgical training over 20 years ago, it was still relatively rare for women to progress in the specialty. Not as unusual as it was in Diana Beck's day, but still unusual. I would say that some of the challenges I've found in my career have possibly been similar to hers, but not on the scale she would have experienced.”

In 2024, Diana Beck was finally recognised with the unveiling of an English Heritage blue plaque, 99 years after she first qualified in medicine, at her former home and consulting rooms at 53 Wimpole Street, in London's Marylebone.

Miss Gilkes said, “One of my mentors in London who had worked and trained at the Middlesex was shocked he'd never heard of her. I described how, in Bristol, there were pictures of all the founders of the unit and she didn't really feature. Likewise at the Middlesex, he was using her office and had no idea that she'd been there and so supported the nomination to English Heritage.

“It was lovely to finally see some recognition for Diana; there should be more, but this was a positive first step.”

Read As part of Women’s History Month, we take a look at the life and work of Diana Beck, the UK’s first female neurosurgeon…

 

Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Dr Emily Gibney is taking on the London Marathon next month, supporting The Walton Centre Charity.

Dr Gibney, who works predominantly in the specialist neurosciences Trust's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will be joining tens of thousands of runners in the famous race to raise money for equipment that will enhance patient experience while they are receiving treatment.

Dr Gibney said: “I enter the London Marathon ballot every year thinking I'll never get a spot, and then this year I did! Training has been long and arduous, but I'm at a point now where I can tackle the challenge.

“I didn't want to run the marathon just for myself, and that's when I thought of The Walton Centre Charity. Some patients can be with us for months, and while we're doing everything we can to look after them medically, I wanted to do more.”

The Walton Centre Charity supports a number of projects across the hospital which aim to enhance the patient experience. 

Dr Gibney continued: “I'm hoping to raise at least £2,000, so that we can buy some equipment that will help patients with low, or no, mobility to communicate more. Things like tablet and smartphone holders for the bedside, and call bells that can be activated through a pillow, will help improve their experience.”

The Walton Centre Charity's Head of Fundraising Madeleine Fletcher said: “We're incredibly grateful for our fundraisers. It is always humbling to see hard working staff like Dr Gibney taking on a huge running challenge like the London Marathon on top of their busy day jobs. 

“The equipment they've identified could make a real difference to what is often an exceptionally hard moment in a patient's life. We are all behind Emily and wish her the best for her training and race day!”

If you want to know more about Dr Gibney's challenge, or support her fundraising, click here: https://www.thewaltoncentrecharity.org/emily-runs-the-london-marathon 

Read Walton Centre doctor takes on London Marathon to raise money…

 

As the country's only specialist neurosciences Trust, The Walton Centre takes a leading role in the training and mentoring of the neurologists and neurosurgeons of the future. Getting into a neurosurgical training position for the eight-year journey to becoming a qualified neurosurgeon is ultra-competitive with between 15 and 25 applicants per place over the past few years. 

A group of trainee surgeons already on the pathway at The Walton Centre have been working with those resident doctors about to apply for their own position and support them in their aspirations to join them as neurosurgeons.

Supported by consultant neurosurgeons Mr Nick Carleton-Bland, Mr Farouk Olubajo, and Professor Andrew Brodbelt, a programme of weekly online mock interviews for resident doctors in the Liverpool region, or affiliated with The Walton Centre were arranged and delivered, together with a formal, dedicated academic clinical fellow interview preparation, academic project proposal planning, CV review, and lab visits.

The programme was led and delivered by a group of doctors already on the training programme including Ahmad Ali, Lana Al-Nusair, Ali Bakhsh, Daoud Chaudhry, Anda Gherman, Feras Sharouf, and Sandhya Krishna.

Mr Nick Carleton-Bland, Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre, and NHS England (Mersey) Training Programme Director in Neurosurgery, said, “This programme, delivered by five of our established neurosurgical trainees, demonstrates the commitment to education that we have here at The Walton Centre. As a leading hospital in neurosciences, we feel we have a responsibility to encourage prospective trainees in their career, and at the same time, demonstrate what a positive, supportive environment The Walton Centre is for resident doctors.

“It has now been confirmed that five of our resident doctors got a neurosurgical training position, out of just 24 available nationally which is fantastic news and shows the quality of the training here in Liverpool and shows what a great place it is to start your medical career if you're interested in neurosurgery.”

Dr Abigail Clynch, who was appointed as an academic clinical fellow in Neurosurgery at The Walton Centre, said, “I still can't believe it, it's my dream job! It's definitely been a long journey to get to this point, and so many people have given their time and support along the way, particularly the consultant and resident doctor team at The Walton Centre. Their encouragement and the new programme delivered to trainees, was invaluable. Liverpool has been an amazing place to start my medical career, and I'm so excited for what comes next here.”

Abigail is joined in her success by Basel Taweel (Leeds), Marwan Muneer (Hull/Sheffield), Natasha Aziz (Nottingham), and George Paul O'Bryne (Ireland).

Congratulations to them all!

If any medical students or resident doctors considering a career in neurosurgery would like to know more about this work, please contact either Mr Ahmad Ali or Mr Nick Carleton-Bland.

 

Read Quality of medical education at The Walton Centre demonstrated by outstanding success in neurosurgical training posts…

 

Consultant Neurosurgeon Professor Michael Jenkinson and Consultant Neurologist Professor Tony Marson have been given Senior Investigator awards by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The roles recognise the most prominent and prestigious researchers in the health and care sector. Together, NIHR senior investigators help to shape the direction of health and social care, and public health research carried out nationally.

Professor Jenkinson was appointed as a Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre in March 2010. He was appointed Professor of Neurosurgery at The University of Liverpool in 2019 and is the Sir John Fisher Foundation / RCSEng Chair of Surgical Trials there. 

He has been an active researcher over his career, leading vital work such as the NIHR-funded BASICS trial investigating antibiotic shunts used in brain surgery, to improve outcomes for patients. This research led to making antibiotic shunts standard practice in the UK - impacting thousands of patients in neurosurgery.   

In 2025 he received the prestigious Vilhelm Magnus Medal, often described as the "Nobel Prize of Neurosurgery”, in recognition of his efforts to improve neurosurgical treatment outcomes, particularly in the field of neuro-oncology and clinical trials.

Professor Jenkinson said: "I'm honoured to receive this prestigious award. As a NIHR Senior Investigator, I look forward to promoting research excellence, mentoring and developing the next generation of researchers. Over the next four year years, I will continue to push forward with research that will hopefully benefit patients with brain tumours and other neurosurgical conditions." 

Professor Marson is an international authority on epilepsy, Dean of The University of Liverpool Institute of Systems Molecular and Integrative Biology and Deputy Director of the Liverpool Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Centre (LINC). 

He also leads of the University of Liverpool's Liverpool Epilepsy Research Group, and has led the largest clinical trials and other evaluations of treatments that underpin treatment policy in the NHS, and around the globe.

Professor Marson said: “I'm delighted that I have been re-appointed as an NIHR Senior Investigator. Finding new ways to treat and manage someone's epilepsy safely is of the utmost importance to me, as is training and bringing on the next generation of researchers across a range of disciplines. I look forward to working with other senior investigators in innovating further, and feeding that into services for people with epilepsy and other neurological conditions.”

Read Professors appointed as Senior Investigators by national research institute…