Innovative therapy pathway for brain tumour patients wins top Macmillan award
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