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At his best friend's engagement party in 2022 in Chester, Chef Matt Bennett fell down a staircase, sustained a serious head injury, and fractured his spine. Rushed immediately to The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust for emergency specialist treatment, Matt's injuries were so severe that he was put into a medically induced coma.

After two weeks, the swelling in Matt's brain began to ease, and clinicians started to wake him up to assess the damage.

Matt's dad Antony said: “It felt like such a long time before he started to come around from the coma. We'd got a call in the early hours to say he'd been taken to The Walton Centre after falling and we just got in the car and rushed over. It's safe to say it didn't look good initially. They took him off the sedation and then it took longer than usual for him to come around.”

Matt was gradually weaned off sedation and monitored further. Eventually he began to wake up.

Matt said: “I don't really remember the fall or anything immediately after that. When I woke up on the ward I was a little anxious and confused. Because of all the stainless steel I thought I was back at work in the kitchen getting ready for a breakfast service! It was only later one night that I began to realise what had happened and where I was.”

Antony and other family members were able to stay at the hospital's charity-funded Home from Home relative's accommodation initially when Matt was brought in, allowing them to stay close to their son in those crucial first days.

Antony said: “Even though he was a little confused when he woke up, once he was awake, his progress was astonishing. Each time we came back to see how he was getting on, he had progressed even further than predicted. As parents, we feel very lucky that he was able to recover as quickly as he did, and with no permanent damage. We know this isn't always the case, and we regularly saw others who were dealing with a lot more during their recovery.”

At the time of his accident, Matt was a Chef at the Michelin Star Gidleigh Park Hotel in Devon, and had returned home for the engagement party when his injury occurred. Matt is now Head Chef at The Pearl in Prestwich, Manchester, where he recently won Manchester Food and Drink Festival's Chef of the Year Award.

Antony continued: “To see how far he's come over the last four years or so has been tremendous. He really pushed in his rehabilitation so that he could return to work and resume living the life he's chosen. When we saw the news that he won the award we were overjoyed! It's a testament to all of his hard work.”

Matt said: "Winning Chef of the Year is definitely one of the highlights of my life. It's been a strange road, from The Walton Centre to where I am now. I'm glad that this one mistake hasn't defined the rest of my life. I'm so thankful for the help from the clinicians around me at the time of my head injury."

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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 Chef of the Year thankful to clinicians who saved his life after serious head injury…

For International Women and Girls in Science 2026, we're highlighting Carrie Chadwick, who is a Consultant Clinical Scientist and the Clinical Director of The Neuroscience Laboratories at The Walton Centre:

“From an early age I was always fascinated by science, in particular human pathophysiology and health care, and as I progressed through school I found the biochemistry elements of science really enjoyable. At university I completed a  BSc(Hons) in Biochemistry at the University of Manchester. I knew I wanted to enter healthcare and, after my Masters in Clinical Biochemistry,  I got a job as a Trainee Clinical Scientist based at South Manchester University Hospital Trust, which then led to my attainment of the Royal College of Pathologists Fellowship qualification in Clinical Biochemistry.

“The last 25 years in the NHS have been both fulfilling and challenging. I'm now a Consultant Clinical Scientist and the Clinical Director of The Neuroscience Laboratories at The Walton Centre. We work as part of a multidisciplinary team, supporting patients and staff in every area of the hospital.

“I look across the NHS and see so many roles for girls and women interested in science - not just laboratory roles, but genetics, nuclear medicine, research, as well as patient-facing clinical roles.

“You've got to be ready to embrace change - science doesn't stand still - but balance this with the constraints of working in the public sector where funding is limited. An innovative, curious approach really works, with a strong moral compass to remember why you're doing what you've chosen to do.

“I never cease to be amazed at the progression of health care science over the last twenty five years. My message to upcoming health care scientists is that you'll be fascinated and challenged on a daily basis, but just remember that changes you make or move forward with, will have a positive impact on patients and their families.”

Read Celebrating International Women and Girls in Science…

Patients across Liverpool with spinal conditions attended a community assessment day aimed at improving their ongoing health and wellbeing ahead of future appointments and treatment.

The Spinal Community Assessment Day (SCAD) is a collaborative pilot between The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, the Spinal Clinical Network, Everton in the Community and local community services aimed at improving patient-centred care for patients on the spinal surgery waiting list.

Held at Everton in the Community, over 100 patients were offered a range of resources tailored to the specific needs of the local population, providing same-day access to services including assessments, advice, health promotion, rehabilitation, community and voluntary sector support. It also included support for people whose condition is impacting their employment.

Mr Martin Wilby, Consultant Neurosurgeon, The Walton Centre, said: “Unfortunately, some patients with spinal conditions are facing longer waits to access specialist services than we would like. However, despite being on a surgical waiting list, when a full consultation is carried out, surgery is frequently not considered to be the long-term solution for many spinal conditions.

“The aim of the SCAD is to keep patients well while they wait and encourage them to engage in self-management of their condition and general health and wellbeing where possible. It also provides the opportunity for collaboration between multiple professionals and organisations aiding a greater understanding of services available and points of access.”

The day focused on understanding each individual patient's needs and providing tailored support, rather than a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Critically, each patient's appointment started with a 'What matters to you' conversation to ensure advice and treatment is supported by an in-depth understanding of each patient's priorities and wishes to enable patients to meet their personal goals.

All patients received a patient passport which they and/or the professionals they talk to, can complete with a treatment plan, advice, contacts for further support or anything else which is important for the patient's spinal recovery.

Depending on their own goals and condition, patients had access to spinal clinical assessments with advanced practitioners or spinal registrars and consultants, MSK physiotherapy and pain management: on-site treatment planning and advice from local teams, public health support and health checks, return to work support, and signposting to local community services.

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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 Spinal patients attend community assessment day for ongoing support…

A spinal patient with chronic pain has undergone a cutting-edge Single Position-Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLIF) and Posterior Instrumented Robotic-Assisted Fusion - the first such procedure at The Walton Centre and the North of England.

OLIF is a minimally invasive procedure, which involves accessing vertebrae through the side of the abdomen and fusing bones in the spine together using bone graphs or metal cages, in an attempt to improve severe back and/or leg pain from degenerative disc disease or instability.

Consultant Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon Mr Prokopis Annis, who conducted the surgery, said: “The goal, always, is to strengthen the spine and improve patient wellbeing. With OLIF, we're able to access the spine via the patient's side, so avoiding large muscle disruption, which can often be the case when operating conventionally. For this patient group, operating this way can mean less time in hospital, a quicker recovery, and, where possible, a reduction in pain and numbness in the back and lower limbs.” 

Patients undergoing this procedure at The Walton Centre remain in a single lateral position throughout surgery. In this case, a specialist spinal robot was used to assist with posterior pedicle screw placement, with the robotic system repositioned around the patient rather than the patient being turned during the operation. This single-position, robotic-assisted OLIF, with posterior instrumented fusion, represents an advanced evolution of minimally invasive spinal surgery.

John Ocquaye, 64, from Liverpool, was the first to undergo the procedure at The Walton Centre to address degenerative discs in his spine. John has undergone decompression surgery in recent years, but experienced a significant improvement to his physical health after OLIF surgery in December 2025. 

He said: “It's been hard going over the years with my spine and the problems I've been experiencing with the discs. I was a little apprehensive before the surgery, as it's longer than usual, but I can't deny the improvement after having it. 

“The numbness in my feet has reduced, but I'm now dealing with pins and needles in my knees and thighs, which I'm told by the complex spinal unit will get better over the next 12-18 months. I can also walk further without a stick than at any time since 2021, when I had my first decompression surgery, thanks to having this new procedure. I've still got a long way to go, but I'm positive that I can get back to life and doing things I've not been able to do for years.”

Clinical Director for Neurosurgery and Consultant Neurosurgeon Mr Emmanuel Chavredakis said: “At The Walton Centre, innovation is central to our practice, and we are committed to introducing and adopting new surgical techniques across all subspecialties, including spinal surgery, to enhance patient care and outcomes.”

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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. 

Follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

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

Read First patient in the north of England undergoes innovative spinal operation…

What does your role involve?

I currently work as the Principal Dietitian for Neuroscience. Clinically, I undertake dietetic assessments with patients on the intensive care unit (ICU).  I also take a service lead role in the Dietetic Department. As Dietitians at The Walton Centre, we provide dietetic input for all inpatients, in addition to a small number of outpatient clinics, for patients with motor neurone disease (MND) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO). On a daily basis, I support junior staff members to develop skills and passion to take ownership for the development and promotion of the dietetic team. We complete service evaluation and audit work across all aspects of dietetics including anthropometry, nutritional requirements and glycaemic control whilst providing patient-centred dietetic care for our patients.

How does it help patients?

Dietitians are degree-qualified health professionals who help to promote nutritional well-being, treat disease and prevent nutrition related problems. We provide practical and safe advice which is based on current scientific evidence.

We undertake nutritional assessment and provide dietary guidance across a variety of patients with neurological conditions. Neurological conditions can have significant implications in terms of nutritional status and intake for patients. Dietitians consider the extent and nature of these effects during nutritional assessment and deliver patient centre dietary interventions.

We offer tailored nutrition support to meet individual patient requirements dependent upon various factors including their age, gender, nutritional status and medical condition. Dietitians recommend and review the most appropriate route of nutrition by providing tailored feeding regimens which could be through oral intake, enteral tube feeding or intravenous feeding.  

What's it like to work at The Walton Centre?

The Walton Centre is a very rewarding place to work; we are a small and friendly team of dietitians who are well-established and respected within the multidisciplinary teams at The Walton Centre.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I love being part of a multi-disciplinary team, which works together to deliver best practice patient centred care for all our patients. The opportunity to support patients through their journey from ICU, the acute wards, and neurorehabilitation is a rewarding and invaluable experience which I feel privileged to be a part of each day.

Where do your passions lie?

During my career I have developed a passion for Dietetics in Critical Care and Trauma; I was fortunate to chair the British Dietetic Association Trauma Subgroup, which involved the development of dietetic resources to support dietitians nationally who are working in trauma. It also gave the opportunity to promote the role of dietitians within ICU and trauma both locally and nationally. I am passionate in supporting my team and I take an active role in empowering junior team members, including students, with the skills and opportunities to shape the future of their dietetic careers.

 

Patient Case Study

Last summer [2025], Anas Makaev started to lose strength in his legs and hands. He developed a bad headache and his eyesight started to deteriorate. As Anas' condition got worse and worse, clinicians diagnosed him with Guillame Barre Syndrome (GBS). Put in an induced coma to slow his symptoms and begin treatment, Anas spend months at The Walton Centre, particularly the Complex Rehabilitation Unit, to continue his rehabilitation.

Anas said: “Everyone at The Walton Centre treated me like part of the family. Staff built a nice relationship with me, held me up when I felt down, and protected me. The Dietitian team, in particular, played a huge part in my recovery.”

Anas had a feeding tube, which put food directly into his stomach, and his nutrition was managed by the team in CRU to ensure he was getting the vital nutrients he needed to continue recovering.

He continued: “The dietitians were incredibly important. They ensured I had the energy I needed each day, so I could do my other therapies, such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Without that nutrition giving me a boost, I wouldn't have been able to work on getting out of bed and being more mobile.”

Since his stay at The Walton Centre, Anas has moved to a rehabilitation unit closer to home in Liverpool, where he continues to recover.

He said: “Using the crutch I can move around more on my own now, I'm able to go to the bathroom and shower unaided. I'm hoping with more time and energy I can get back to something close to normal before developing GBS. I just want to say a huge thank you to the team in how they supported me while I was on CRU. It was important to me to have them behind me, supporting me and pushing me to recover.”

You can read more news, staff and patient stories in the latest edition of Neuromatters.

Read Feature - Q&A Principal Dietitian Amy Carter…

 

Professor Paul May, Non-Executive Director at The Walton Centre, and former Consultant Neurosurgeon has been recognised in the 2026 New Year Honours list for services to charitable fundraising and neurosurgery.

A distinguished figure in neurosurgery, Professor May spent four decades at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust as a Consultant Neurosurgeon and founded the paediatric neurosurgical service at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. Following his retirement, he was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of The Walton Centre.  

His leadership has shaped the field nationally, serving as President of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons and as National and Clinical Lead for Adolescent and Paediatric Neurosurgery under the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme. In August last year, he was appointed as the first Chair of the North West Neurosurgery Specialised Services Clinical Network.

Professor May said: “I am humbled and honoured to receive this award which reflects the love and support of my wife, family and friends and the privilege of working in the fantastic city of Liverpool with amazing colleagues and great people “  

The Walton Centre's Chief Executive Jan Ross said: “We are incredibly proud of Paul and the difference he has made to neurosurgery across Liverpool, Merseyside and the country over the past 40 years. He has had an immeasurable impact on countless patients and their families. It is testament to this impact how many people remember the difference he made from his time as a practising surgeon at The Walton Centre.

“He thoroughly deserves this recognition for his commitment and dedication. Congratulations Paul.”

Read Former neurosurgeon receives MBE…

Pain Medicine Consultant and Chair of Pain Medicine at the University of Liverpool, Professor Andreas Goebel, has highlighted the need for more awareness of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in an article published in the internationally renowned New England Journal of Medicine this week.

CRPS is a rare, often severe post-traumatic limb pain condition of possible autoimmune origin. Of those affected, one in five patients will have persistent symptoms. Treatment can include pain management programmes to support self-care, and, in some patients, neurosurgical interventions may be recommended if other pathways have been exhausted.

Professor Goebel said: “It's important to recognise this often invisible pain condition and increase the awareness. Many patients can go a long time undiagnosed because of very individual symptoms. Prompting more discussion around it can only help improve knowledge, and direct patients to the correct services.

“Here at The Walton Centre, we run a dedicated CRPS service, which looks at each patient holistically, incorporating education, pain relief, physical rehabilitation, and psychological intervention into their care.”

The CRPS review features in the New England Journal of Medicine, recognized as the world's leading medical journal and website. Published continuously for over 200 years, the publication aims to deliver high-quality, peer-reviewed research and interactive clinical content to physicians, educators, researchers, and the global medical community.

The Walton Centre's Deputy Chief Executive and Medical Director Dr Andy Nicolson said: “Highlighting this condition is an important step in getting more people diagnosed and treated. Often it can be a debilitating condition for a number of reasons, which is why substantial effort from Professor Goebel and his team goes into raising awareness and researching new treatments and ways of supporting CRPS patients.”

Alongside the University of Liverpool, The Walton Centre team are at the forefront of CRPS research world-wide, initiating a UK Guideline Group, which recently developed UK Guidance for health professionals for managing the condition - the first of its kind in the UK.

For more information on The Walton Centre's CRPS service, visit our website: https://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/complex-regional-pain-syndrome-crps

You can also find the current national guidelines for CRPS on the Royal College of Physicians website: https://www.rcp.ac.uk/media/4uijppdz/complex-regional-pain-syndrome-in-adults-second-edition_0.pdf

You can read the full article here: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp2415752

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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 Leading pain specialist highlights complex syndrome in the New England Journal of Medicine…

A new study has shown that a clinical tool developed by the University of Liverpool and The Walton Centre can accurately predict whether the most common type of brain tumour will grow or cause symptoms, helping doctors and patients make better-informed decisions about care.

Meningiomas, which account for around 3,500 new cases in the UK each year, are often discovered by chance during brain scans. While most never cause harm, some eventually require surgery or other treatment. Until now, it has been difficult to know which patients will be affected, leading to years of unnecessary monitoring for some and delayed treatment for others.

Researchers developed the IMPACT tool in 2019 based on data from around 400 patients under neurosurgical care at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. The tool considers the patient’s comorbidities, functional status and imaging characteristics of the tumour, to work out the risk of tumour progression, and need for treatment. The tool has now been tested on more than 1,200 patients from 33 hospitals across 15 countries, with follow-up periods of up to 15 years. The results showed that patients could be reliably grouped into low, medium, or high risk of tumour progression.

Low-risk patients were found to have only a one in twenty-five chance of needing treatment, while the risk was one in four for medium-risk patients and one in two for those in the high-risk group. Most progression was seen within the first five years, while older or frailer patients were found to be very unlikely ever to require treatment.

Study lead, Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Liverpool, Michael Jenkinson said: “It’s important that now we test the IMPACT tool in real-time with patients in clinics, with funding being sought to bring it into routine practice. The ability to offer personalised care will bring not only health benefits to patients but also cost savings to the NHS and wider economic growth.”

The findings suggest that high-risk patients may benefit from early intervention, medium-risk patients should continue regular monitoring, and many low-risk patients could be safely discharged with advice on what symptoms to look out for.

Dr Abdurrahman Islim, study co-lead, former Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and currently a Neurosurgery Registrar and PhD Fellow, University of Manchester & Salford Royal Hospital (part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust), said: “This study is an important step forward in personalising care for people with meningiomas. For the first time, we can give patients with an incidental meningioma clear answers about their individual risk, helping avoid unnecessary scans for some, while ensuring that others get timely treatment.”

The paper, ‘A Clinical Tool to Identify Incidental Meningioma for Early Outpatient Management’, was published in JAMA Oncology (DOI:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.4821).

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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 

 

About the University of Liverpool

Founded in 1881 as the original ‘red brick’, the University of Liverpool is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive higher education institutions with an annual turnover of £708.3 million, including an annual research income of £163.1 million. 

Now ranked in the top 150 universities worldwide (QS World Rankings 2026 and Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 ), we are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of the UK’s leading research universities and have a global reach and influence that reflects our academic heritage as one of the country’s largest civic institutions.

The latest UK rankings of circa 130 institutions have placed the University of Liverpool at 18th (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025), 22nd (2026 Guardian University Guide), 25th (Daily Mail University Guide 2025) and 23rd (2026 Complete University Guide) nationally.

Read New tool helps predict which brain tumours will require treatment…