New charity-funded patient video launched to improve awareness of awake brain surgery
Date: 04 February 2025

The Walton Centre has launched a new video charting the course of a complex surgical procedure to improve awareness and support patients undergoing brain tumour treatment.
Awake craniotomy, the featured procedure, is a specialised operation offered to select patients where critical brain areas must be protected during tumour removal. This technique allows the neurosurgical team to monitor patient responses while navigating sensitive brain structures, ensuring optimal preservation of function.
Consultant Neurosurgeon Mr Farouk Olubajo, who led this initiative in collaboration with The Walton Centre Charity, explains: "An awake craniotomy can initially seem daunting to patients, which can complicate treatment decisions, as operating in certain brain regions while the patient is asleep can significantly increase risks. During an awake procedure, patients experience no/minimal pain, yet we can effectively test crucial brain functions, such as speech or mobility, before tumour removal.
"This educational video serves as an excellent resource for patients to understand the procedure and set clear expectations. Working with our charity to enhance our awake craniotomy service in this way has been particularly rewarding."
A recent review of the service found that 100% of patients who had an awake craniotomy had a positive experience, emphasising feeling empowered during surgery. The average length of stay has decreased significantly compared to procedures performed under general anaesthetic.
Norman Larkin, 74, from Liverpool (pictured right with wife Linda), was experiencing cognitive problems when returning home from holiday last year. Shortly after speaking to the GP, a scan revealed a glioblastoma in his brain.
Norman said: “We had just come back from a holiday, and when we were in the taxi going home, I realised I couldn’t remember my address. I thought it was tiredness, but I subsequently found I was struggling to finish the crossword or remember familiar names.
“I made an appointment to see my GP who carried out various tests, but was unable to identify the issue though he believed it to be cognitive decline. Luckily, I have doctors in the family who insisted on my seeing a consultant geriatrician at a private consultation. As a result, I had an urgent MRI scan.”
The scan revealed a glioblastoma in Norman’s brain, he was then referred immediately to The Walton Centre, where an awake craniotomy was suggested to preserve cognitive function.
Norman continued: “The procedure was fully explained to me, and I had the opportunity to ask questions beforehand - I was fascinated, unusually I wasn’t nervous for a second.
“I was so impressed by the quality, friendliness and professionalism of every member involved in the operation. The team were excellent in letting me know exactly what the process involved and the type of testing that they did during the procedure.
“Thankfully the operation was successful and very interesting. I was awake for a large part of it answering questions, though I only remember a small part of this.
“Having watched the patient video the hospital and charity have launched, I think it’s interesting and informative for patients about to undergo the procedure. I had confidence in my clinical team, and felt assured that they would look after me, I cannot thank them enough.”
You can watch the video on the hospital’s Neuro-oncology service page here: https://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/departments-and-services/neuro-oncology-department/402869
-Ends-
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
- Summary:
The Walton Centre has launched a new video charting the course of a complex surgical procedure to improve awareness and support patients undergoing brain tumour treatment.