News

One of Team GB’s Lead Physiotherapists Andrew Walling made it to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, thanks to The Walton Centre effectively treating his Cluster Headaches.

From the age of 15, Andrew has experienced cluster headaches, which are excruciating attacks of pain in one side of the head, often felt around the eye.

He said: “The pain is like nothing you’ve ever felt before. It starts off with one or two headaches a day, but then ramps up to three or four and they are so bad I have to lie down in a darkened room. Afterwards I’m exhausted.”

Andrew was diagnosed with the condition in his 20s and since then has been treated by The Walton Centre to prevent the painful headaches. When he told his clinician Dr Nick Silver he was getting signs of a relapse weeks before the start of the Olympic Games, the team knew what to do.

Andrew said: “Dr Silver called me and arranged for me to come in for a nerve block injection. I was seen within days and the headaches just disappeared. It was amazingly quick and I can’t thank the team enough. The treatment is excellent and it means I can support our top athletes during the long awaited Tokyo Olympic Games.”

Originally from Salford, the 48 year old flew out to Japan last week to join the team in the training village in Tokyo.

Consultant Neurologist Dr Nick Silver specialises in the management of severe and refractory headache disorders. He said: “Cluster headache is one of the most severe pain disorders known to mankind.

“As a Regional Headache Centre that specialises in the management of severe and refractory headache disorders, we receive referrals from around the UK, and it is really important to manage patients with cluster headache in a timely fashion, as this disorder my cause huge disability, distress and disruption to normal working and family life.

“Cluster headache can completely take over normal life and cause severe sleep disruption, mood disturbance, fatigue and difficulties with normal concentration. We are actively engaged in the pursuit and research of new treatments to be able to offer patients increased options to manage their disorder successfully.”

For many patients, the use of urgent nerve blocks can help send in signals to the nerve circuits within the brain that have disordered function to suppress the painful attacks successfully and help turn off other symptoms as well. These are done as in the outpatients department and involve an injection of local anaesthetic with or without steroid near nerves around the head that feed into these headache pain networks.

 

-ends- 

Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange a visit contact the Communications Team on 0151 556 3397 or email wcf-tr.waltoncentre.communications@nhs.net.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. It has twice been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. 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.

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 Making it to the Tokyo Olympic Games – with help from The Walton Centre…

The Walton Centre has extended satellite spinal clinics in North Wales for the first time. The specialist neurosciences trust, based in Liverpool, is working alongside the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt NHS Foundation Trust to bring care for spinal patients closer to home.

There are new clinics in several hospitals governed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which are being provided by the two specialist trusts.

The Walton Centre’s Consultant Spinal Surgeon Mr Narendra Kumar Rath (Pictured above, far right) provides a spinal clinic in Holywell Community Hospital near Rhyl, he said: “The aim is always to do what is right for the patient, and in this case it was enhancing how they access The Walton Centre and its’ spinal services.

“As a part of our Care Close to Home Initiative bringing clinics to some of the more remote regions the hospital serves, which means less travel and more meeting clinicians, which is often a stressful occurrence, in a familiar setting.

“It also provides opportunity to develop an inter-regional network among various specialities and truly serves as a multidisciplinary facet of this service. Having held clinics already, I can say with some confidence that both patients and clinicians are responding positively to having us closer to home. I would like to thank everyone in The Walton Centre management team, especially Ms Emma Denby for all the hard work she has put in to make this happen.”

42 year-old Dominic Roberts from Rhuddlan near Rhyl injured his spine in 2008. After searching for a solution privately and through the NHS, Dominic was referred to The Walton Centre, shortly after Mr Rath’s new spinal clinic was brought to Holywell Community Hospital.   

He said: “My travel time to the hospital has been reduced from over an hour to 15 minutes. It means less pressure to get there and less anxiety about traffic. My injury means I’m in constant pain; so long journeys in the car can be very uncomfortable. 

“When I go to the clinic I don’t have to wait long and everyone is friendly and helpful. I feel supported and confident about the future. Having the new spinal clinics in North Wales means we’ve got some of the best surgeons and clinicians in the country closer to home, which can only improve the quality of support for patients like me.”

Mr Birender Balain (pictured above, far left), Consultant Spine Surgeon at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH), who is currently running a clinic at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, said: “The extension of these clinics, based at locations closer to patients’ homes, is highly beneficial for the patients. This greatly benefits other clinicians as well. A multi-disciplinary approach is most helpful, and this helps the Clinical Musculoskeletal Assessment and Treatment Service (CMATS) team as well by supporting them. Enhanced teaching through interaction helps to make the most effective treatment plans for patients in a timely manner.

“The clinics at Wrexham Maelor have, already in just a few months, helped a closer understanding between different specialities like spine surgery, pain clinics and CMATS clinicians, and it is great to see that.  This will result in better pathways for patient care and management in the long run.”

Yvonne Rimmer, Consultant Therapist MSK at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “Having access to the spinal consultants from The Walton Centre and RJAH has enabled multi-disciplinary clinics to be set up where complex patients can be discussed and management  advised, facilitating  provision of high quality, safer practice through access to this expertise. These case discussions have also reduced inappropriate referrals to tertiary services. Staff and their patients are better supported with these shared clinics in place.

“It has also enabled shared spinal learning events with orthopaedics, radiology and physiotherapists supporting spinal pathway improvement work.”

-ends-

 

Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange a visit contact the Communications Team on 0151 556 3397 or email wcf-tr.waltoncentre.communications@nhs.net.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. It has twice been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. 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.

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 spinal clinic in North Wales brings care closer to home…

Jan Ross, former Director of Operations and Strategy and Deputy Chief Executive at The Walton Centre, has been appointed as the Trust’s new Chief Executive. Jan, who has 30 years’ experience working in the NHS, joined The Walton Centre in November 2018. A nurse by background, she has also spent time at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.

She said, “I am delighted to be taking on the leadership of The Walton Centre, already an outstanding trust with a long history of providing highly specialised care. I want to take this further – we should capitalise on our great potential, and strive to be the very best. The Walton Centre should be synonymous with fantastic clinical standards, new and exciting research that drives forward healthcare, and a culture that facilitates the professional development and wellbeing of our staff. I know our staff want this as much as I do, and I am really excited to work together to achieve it.”

Janet Rosser, our Trust Chair said: “The Walton Centre staff will know what an immense impact Jan has had on our organisation since she started at the Trust, and the great leadership she has provided throughout the coronavirus pandemic. I am confident she will continue to lead our hospital with passion and dedication for the benefit of all our patients and their families, and our staff.”

 

Read Jan Ross announced as new CEO of The Walton Centre…

In March 2021 NHSX announced The Walton centre will be included in the second wave of the Digital Aspirant programme – a project which helps trusts across the country digitise and progress towards paper-free patient record keeping.

The country’s only specialist neurosciences trust is one of seven organisations to receive up to six million pounds each over the next three years to help deliver digital ambitions.

A key ambition of The Walton Centre is to make patient pathways through the hospital a more joined up, digital process. The hospital’s IT department have been steadily working towards paperless record keeping, but this new injection of funds will mean an increase in pace.

Head of IT Justin Griffiths (pictured left) said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time! With the Digital Aspirant funding, we’re going to be able to accelerate projects and move closer to being a completely digital trust.

“We’re in the process of writing our next three year digital strategy and this boost will help us deliver our  ambitions. The plan is to review everything, from infrastructure and our digital maturity, to interoperability and how patients can benefit from state-of-the-art software. Our priority right now is to continue digitising records and ensuring these systems communicate with each other smoothly. The future will be digital systems working in harmony with clinicians, giving them a high level of support wherever possible.

“COVID-19 has shown us the potential in adapting to a more digital world for the benefit of both patients and staff, and I’m delighted we will be able to continue innovating and improving our digital offering.”

The IT team is now bringing plans to digitise The Walton Centre’s Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) forward by a year, as the new funding will increase the resources which can be dedicated to future projects.

Dr Sandeep Lakhani (pictured right) is the Divisional Clinical Director for Neurosurgery, he said: “ITU is a very complex environment, as some of the most complex patients with serious illnesses are treated on ITU.

“In emergency situations, ITU clinicians need urgent access to accurate patient information, so any transition to digital records needs to be smooth and efficient. Our IT department has been working out the best way to integrate more patient records within ITU with the rest of the trust’s electronic records.

“Bringing the project forward is a very welcome step and will make a huge difference to how we work and ultimately further improve the safety and quality of care for our patients.”

Interim Chief Executive Officer Jan Ross said: “It’s going to make an incredible difference to patient care. The funding will enable the Trust to bring the benefits of technology to every single patient as well as our staff.  Bringing more of the hospital online will be invaluable and will enable an even higher standard of care. I’m delighted we will be able to accelerate our plans sooner with this new funding.”

 

Read NHSX Digital Aspirant funding will mean more integrated health care for Walton Centre patients…

Frontline nurses from The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust are to feature in a collection of photographs in aid of NHS Gift for heroes – an initiative founded by celebrity hairdresser, Adee Phelan.

With all portraits photographed on the same day that the very first COVID-19 vaccination was administered in 2020, this series of images, taken by world renowned photographer Rankin, focus on the unique stories of seven key workers from around the country. As part of this collection, Adee Phelan also makes a personal appearance, holding one of his gift boxes in one frame and a sign in the other bearing the figure 650; a number that by the shooting date, represented the total NHS lives that have been lost to the virus.  

Madina Redjai, Ward Sister, and Bincy James, Senior ITU Nurse, travelled down to London to take part in the project when it was safe to do so.

Madina said: “The shoot itself was very nerve wracking. I was laughing so much through the entire photo shoot because I was so nervous. Rankin is such a famous photographer, and he has photographed so many people, I thought it would be intimidating but Adee and Rankin did their best to put us at ease and make us comfortable.

“Preparing for the shoot was fun too. It was nice to get our hair and make-up done, and it was lovely meeting and talking to different people that day including the hairdressers and make-up artist.

“Remember that the NHS staff are still smiling, although patients cannot see with the masks and the PPE. It’s a shame but this exhibition is a nice reminder that we do still smile, just behind our masks!”

Bincy said: “Even though it has been incredibly stressful, I feel very happy and proud that I could do something for the public as part of the NHS. Adee came over to Liverpool as part of his fundraising program. I am really thankful for Adee Phelan’s hard work raising money to help the NHS staff. Through his charity fundraising projects he has undoubtedly helped members of the NHS and volunteers both practically and emotionally, so that we can continue with our vital life- saving work.”

Maddox Gallery are displaying a selection of the photographs in the windows of their Westbourne Grove gallery. Each photograph will have a QR code, which gives people admiring the photographs more information about the frontline staff featured.

Deputy Director of Nursing and Governance Lindsey Vlasman said: “We were honoured when Adee approached the hospital asking for nurses to photograph for the initiative. Our frontline staff have been working incredibly hard during the pandemic, caring for patients with COVID-19 and supporting the wider system during the waves of high cases. Adee’s care packages were well received and it’s excellent to see staff across the country celebrated in this way.”

Following the launch of Adee’s gift box initiative in 2020, he has since secured over £1.7 million in product donations and raised enough funds through a JustGiving page to both personally create and deliver over 23,556 gift boxes, which The Walton Centre benefited from during the height of the pandemic.

Adee commented: “Every time people get these boxes, these frontline warriors, the smiles on their faces are just unbelievable. We’ve hand delivered thousands of boxes to hospitals over the country and I want to keep it going. Things are still desperate, and they still need our help, so I’ve set up a new JustGiving page to raise funds for packaging and delivery and if you can help by donating, please do so”.

Maddox Gallery CEO, John Russo, also added: “Philanthropy has always been such an integral part of our ethos here at Maddox, so when we heard about the incredible work that Adee was doing with NHS Gift for Heroes, we were keen to support. Unfortunately, along with many galleries across the nation, all of our London locations were subject to forced closure during lockdown. To be able to re-purpose our Westbourne Grove gallery windows for this special project has not only been a pleasure, but also a source of inspiration to all involved”. 

The gallery will be displaying the photographs from Saturday 20 March to Monday 5 April, but you can see them on their website www.maddoxgallery.com.

 

Read Frontline Walton Centre Staff feature in Rankin photographs of NHS Heroes…

Emma Bond, 29, from Newton-Le-Willows, started hearing music in 2019 and couldn’t understand why. At first clinicians thought it was down to stress, but further investigations found a neurological problem.

After attending A&E, and speaking to her GP and finding nothing wrong, Emma was sent for an MRI scan, which revealed she had a grade two tumour growing in her brain, causing her to hear music.

Emma said: “It was so bizarre, all of a sudden I started hearing music after we’d been celebrating our joint hen and stag do. I thought I was going mad, it felt like people were singing lyrics to me!”

Emma was immediately referred The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust for neurosurgery, where 95% of the tumour was removed. The remaining tumour was treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which she received at The Clatterbridge Cancer NHS Foundation Trust.

Emma continued: “I had my surgery the week before I was due to get married. I was over the moon that my surgeon was able to take almost all of the tumour out, when at first they thought they would only be able to take out about 80%.

“The care and support I’ve received from both hospitals has been incredible, I can’t thank them enough. Even through all the changes because of the pandemic they have been attentive and helpful.”

Emma’s surgery involved using the Intraoperative MRI, which involves scanning a patient during a procedure, rather than having to wait afterwards, meaning more of the tumour could be removed in one operation. This ground-breaking technology was donated to The Walton Centre by the Marina Dalglish Appeal in 2017.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre sees over 30,000 patients every year with solid tumours and blood cancer, offering treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In June 2020, the Trust opened its brand new, specialist cancer hospital in Liverpool, in addition to continuing to offer treatment from its centres in Wirral and Aintree.

Dr Chloe May, a Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, who’s specialisms include neuro-oncology, said: “If you are experiencing unusual symptoms you are concerned might be cancer, please seek medical advice, as Emma did.

“Cancer care remains a priority for the NHS and whilst COVID-19 continues to put pressure on hospitals, we are working to ensure that cancer treatment can continue safely.”

Emma had six weeks of radiotherapy with Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral in 2019. During her treatment, staff would play songs chosen by her friends and family. Emma said: “Each day my Dad gave me a piece of paper to give to my super kind treatment team with three songs on. I had no idea what these were which meant I looked forward to each session - I started calling it ‘Radio’ therapy!

“I have spoken to the lovely radiotherapy team a few times since finishing that and I know they sometimes now recommend this to other patients. They were so supportive through that treatment.”

Emma and her fiancé Edd were so impressed with the two NHS Trusts that they dedicated 2020 to fundraising for them and Brain Tumour Research.

Edd Blake said: “I was so grateful for all the support both The Walton Centre and Clatterbridge were giving Emma, I just had to do something. So we came up with the crazy idea of me running a mile a day for a year and fundraise as we go! I’ve been overwhelmed with the support we’ve had from friends, family, colleagues and beyond, it’s been amazing.”

Edd completed his challenge on New Years’ Eve 2020, totalling 366 miles! So far they have raised over £8,500 and they’re aiming for £10,000 before they close the appeal in March.

Emma said: “It’s certainly been an interesting couple of years with surgery and then the pandemic and cancer treatment. But it’s shown me how much love and support is out there, and that the NHS has been working hard despite all the lockdowns! I’m so proud of Edd for his fundraising efforts and hopefully the money will make a difference for future patients.”

Head of Fundraising at The Walton Centre Madeleine Fletcher said: “Edd and Emma have been amazing, raising thousands of pounds to support staff and patients. Even through the many lockdowns of last year, fundraisers like Emma and Edd have come up with creative ways to support us – from virtual events to virtual running challenges. Thank you so much for your continued efforts.”

Emma and Edd’s fundraising page is still open until March, for more information go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EMMABOND007

Read Patient who started ‘hearing music’ discovered she had a life-threatening brain tumour…

Director and Lead Nurse for the Cheshire & Mersey (& the Isle of Man) Major Trauma & Adult Critical Care Networks (CMCCN) Sarah Clarke has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

Sarah has specialised in critical care throughout her career, which has seen her travel the globe working in public and private healthcare. For the last 20 years, she has been an integral leader in critical care in the region and has most recently supported the NHS response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the North West.

The CMCCN consists of a small team of senior NHS staff who provide specialist clinical expertise, advice and guidance to providers and commissioners regarding major trauma and adult critical care pathways.

Sarah has led the evolution of the networks, working across organisational and professional boundaries to improve the patient pathway and define best practice. Nationally both networks have a high profile and are seen as exemplars of this network model.

Sarah said: “I was so surprised when I was told I was getting an MBE in this year’s honours list. It’s been really difficult keeping it a secret! I am delighted by this award. My colleagues in the network work with me to promote equitable and safe care and they have been incredibly important. I’m very grateful to everyone involved for recognising my work in this way.”

Chief Executive of The Walton Centre, which hosts CMCCN and Chair of the Critical Care Operational Delivery Network Hayley Citrine said: “I’m thrilled that Sarah has been awarded an MBE. Her personal experience, expertise and commitment have made a significant difference to patient care and how the region has managed its critical care resources.

“Sarah’s leadership skills in leading the team, working with the Medical Directors and initiating the ‘ICBIS’ database, the corner stone to operational requirements, have been second to none.

“She is an outstanding leader for the critical care network. I’m very proud of her and believe that she has contributed significantly to the high level of quality care for patients in the region who require urgent care.”

Throughout her career, Sarah has taken every opportunity to influence and support the delivery of safe, equitable high quality care for critically ill patients, supporting and facilitating development of critical care as a specialty, the empowerment of critical care nurses and wider nursing issues and has directly contributed to a number of national documents.

Her work has informed the development of national critical care nursing standards and education, the early stages of which she led through her role as chair of the National Critical Care Networks Nurse Leads (CC3N) as well as contributing to national specifications for critical care and major trauma services and the co-authorship of chapters in the Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services (GPICS, v1 & v2).

 

Read Network Lead Nurse recognised in New Year’s Honours List…