Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visits The Walton Centre
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal today (Friday, 9 October) visited The Walton Centre, the UK's only specialist neurosciences hospital, to mark the 1000th life-changing procedure for stroke patients, and the renaming of the Theatres department after a pioneering surgeon.
Since 2021, The Walton Centre has provided a thrombectomy service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and was the first Trust in the north-west to do so. Since then, staff have carried out over 1000 of these procedures, leading to a significantly altered outlook for patients.
Thrombectomy is an innovative procedure which involves using guide wires and specialist equipment to remove blood clots from arteries in the brain following a stroke.
The Princess Royal spoke with staff from the radiology unit who carry out this specialist procedure, and a former patient, Jess Tierney, who had a thrombectomy in 2024 after suffering from a stroke at age 29.
Dr Mohammad Altibi, Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist at The Walton Centre, said: "It was an honour to show Her Royal Highness the work we do in interventional neuroradiology, and to share the difference these minimally invasive treatments are making for our patients."
Jess said, “I know that having a thrombectomy made such a difference to my recovery and rehabilitation. I was delighted to be able to share my experience with The Princess Royal and talk about the difference the staff at The Walton Centre made to my life.”
Also during the visit, Her Royal Highness visited the Theatres Department which have been renamed 'The Beck Theatre Department' following a refurbishment, recognising the life and work of Diana Beck, the country's first female neurosurgeon, who died 70 years ago this year.
Whilst Ms Beck did not work at The Walton Centre, her legacy was overlooked within the medical community until work by Miss Catherine Gilkes, Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre, Mr Michael Powell, retired neurosurgeon from London and Mr David Sandeman, retired neurosurgeon from Bristol, brought her to attention.
All other wards and units at The Walton Centre are named after men, so to name the recently refurbished Theatre Department after the UK's first female neurosurgeon is an important step to recognise the impact and heritage of women in medicine.
Miss Gilkes, the first female neurosurgical consultant to be appointed at The Walton Centre in 2011, said: “As a junior registrar in Bristol, I learned that Ms Beck was one of the founding consultants of the unit and collated and published much of the information that we currently have of her life and achievements in Neurosurgery in 2008.”
Alex Hills, grandson of Diana's cousin, who attended the event, said: “It was lovely to see Diana recognised in this way, in front of The Princess Royal, and inspiring for my children to see the continuing impact she is having across neurosurgery.”
Miss Gilkes added: “The naming of the Beck Theatre Suite at The Walton Centre, in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, is a fitting tribute to an amazing woman. Ms Beck's clinical excellence and achievements paved the way for future generations of women in surgery and neuroscience.”