News

Staff and supporters from The Walton Centre have raised over £10,000 for The Walton Centre Charity as part of this year’s Virgin London Marathon, supporting excellence in neuroscience, and patient treatment and care.

A Walton Centre team, spearheaded by Chief Executive Jan Ross, completed a bespoke course around the streets of Liverpool on Sunday as part of the Virtual Virgin London Marathon, raising over £6,000 for the Home from Home relatives’ accommodation at The Walton Centre where relatives can stay after a patient has been admitted for urgent treatment

It’s the first time The Walton Centre Charity received places in the event.

Jan Ross, Chief Executive, said, “It was a massive challenge but absolutely worth it, to raise money for this fantastic cause. The Home from Home service ensures the families of our patients can stay in a safe environment, close to their loved ones. I’m very proud to be raising money to support this – it’s such a vital service for the hospital. I’m feeling very tired and sore today, but I can’t thank everyone enough for their support, either at the start and finish, along the route, or through their donations. It means an incredible amount to me and the rest of the team.”

A number of ‘Fresh Leg’ supporters, including Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive Dr Andy Nicolson, and Deputy Medical Director Dr Sacha Niven, joined each of our runners for a mile or two along the route and spur them along, providing much needed support at various points of the course.

Fran Redmond, 25, is a former patient of The Walton Centre and took part in the Virtual Virgin London Marathon to say thank you to the hospital that saved his life.

In August 2016, after two weeks of headaches, insomnia and dizziness, he was diagnosed with an acute subdural haematoma and subarachnoid cyst. He said, “Thanks to the incredible work of The Walton Centre, hours in the operating room at the hands of my consultant Ms Catherine McMahon and the incredible clinical teams I was able to have my haematoma successfully treated.

“I cannot thank the staff at The Walton Centre enough for what they did for me, as without them I would genuinely not be here today. The road to recovery was a long one and I will never forget what happened and how that changed my entire life. I have two lovely scars on my head to forever remind me of the sanctity of life, how precious life really is and of the incredible work The Walton Centre.

“I’ve done some other runs to raise money for the Charity so being part of the London Marathon team felt like a natural step to say thank you to the hospital that saved my life, and support others like myself in their time of need.”

The Walton Centre Charity team in full was: Jan Ross, Chief Executive, Laura Abernethy, Patient Access and Performance Director; Frank Burns, Operational Services Manager; Eve Danaher, Physiotherapist; Harry Hodgson, Library Clerk; Tom Slater, Software Developer; Bala Sridhar, Digital Change Lead; and Fran Redmond, former Walton Centre patient.

To support the team’s fundraising, visit https://www.thewaltoncentrecharity.org/virtual-london-marathon-runners and check out photos from the day on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

We also had two runners, Simon Thomas and Marie Garnett who ran their own courses as part of the Virtual London Marathon. Simon sandwiched the 26.2 miles around Widnes in the middle of the Great North Run and the Alton Towers half marathon as part of a triple challenge raising money in memory of his late family friend Spen Webster who received treatment at The Walton Centre for a brain tumour.

Marie ran a marathon on Sunday after learning to walk again following her diagnosis with a brain tumour in 2015, less than six weeks after giving birth. She spent more than a month at The Walton Centre and underwent three brain surgeries

Finally, one of our supporters travelled to London, raising money for The Walton Centre where her youngest brother is recovering from open brain surgery in late September. Ali Young completed her 10th London Marathon to thank The Walton Centre for all they’ve done for her brother who was treated for two brain aneurysms and a bleed on the brain.

Thank you to all our runners, what an amazing effort by every single one of you and the money raised will benefit so many of our patients. Thank you also to all the people who came out to cheer on our runners and volunteer as marshals, ‘Fresh Leg’ runners, and helping our runners prepare for the big day. 

 

For more information about how to get involved in The Walton Centre Charity visit thewaltoncentrecharity.org

Read Walton Centre team complete marathon effort…

When 53-year-old Christine Bore had a seizure at home in Southport, little did she know that that cause was a brain tumour. She was quickly referred to The Walton Centre, where Professor Michael Jenkinson diagnosed it as a grade four glioblastoma.

Surgery was arranged within weeks of the initial discovery, and Christine had her operation in May.

“I was amazed at the speed of the process. I appreciated the determination by Professor Jenkinson and the staff at The Walton Centre to get the tumour removed as soon as possible.”

As part of her treatment, Christine took part in a study involving a drink which helps surgeons distinguish between healthy tissue and the tumour – which can be difficult to do with brain tissue. ‘The Pink Drink’, called 5-ALA (branded as Gliolan), is diluted in water and drunk by the patient prior to surgery. The 5-ALA is absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the brain and the tumour. Under blue ultraviolet light, the solution makes the tumour glow pink or red, showing the surgeon where the edges of the tumour are.

Professor Jenkinson said: “5-ALA is a fantastic tool we use in the removal of tumours. We use scans and images of the brain to navigate our way to the tumour, but sometimes it can be difficult discerning between healthy tissue and tumour, so caution is always necessary to avoid damaging the brain. By using the drink we can remove more cancerous tissue, therefore improving the patient’s chances of survival.”

After her surgery, Christine, who is a tissue viability nurse in Southport, recovered on Dott Ward. She said: “The staff on Dott were so supportive and helpful. Prof Jenkinson came to see me soon after the operation and told me all of the tumour that was revealed by the pink drink had been removed. I can’t tell you how relieved I was that everything went well. I was nervous to see how being on the other side of nursing would be, but the level of care I received was exceptional – I can’t thank them enough!”

Christine is now continuing her treatment with Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

According to The Brain Tumour Charity, studies show that in 70.5% of cases when the pink drink is used, surgeons manage to remove the entire tumour - up from around 30% without the use of 5-ALA. For more information: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/media-centre/news/research-news/5-ala-pink-drink-faqs/#:~:text=5%2DALA%2C%20also%20known%20as,less%20damage%20to%20healthy%20tissue.

 

-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 Patient drinks innovative ‘pink drink’ to help surgeon remove brain tumour…

Nine staff and supporters are running the Virtual London Marathon this year, raising money for the Home from Home centre. Two of them, Chief Executive Jan Ross (pictured above, left) and Patient Access and Performance Director Laura Abernethy (pictured right), share their reasons for taking part.

Laura, 37, has worked at The Walton Centre for seven years. She said, “Over my time here I have spoken to many families who have stayed in the Home from Home relatives accommodation and they all speak about how special and comforting it is to be so close to their loved ones at such a difficult time. The centre really does support patients and families during a very stressful time. Doing a marathon has always been on my bucket list (albeit quite a long way down!), so this seemed like the perfect opportunity – taking part in an iconic event, and for a great cause. Being part of The Walton Centre team is giving me the inspiration I need to complete it.

Jan, 47, was appointed as Chief Executive of The Walton Centre in June 2021. Previous to that she was the Director of Operations and Strategy and Deputy Chief Executive at the Trust and has 30 years’ experience working in the NHS.

A nurse by background, Jan said she signed up for Team Walton to support the fantastic Home from Home accommodation. “I’m incredibly proud that The Walton Centre offers this service which is so generously supported by The Walton Centre Charity. Families can have a safe environment to rest, eat and relax, all in the knowledge that they are close by to their loved one at such a difficult time. When I heard about the Virtual London Marathon places for Walton Centre staff and supporters, it felt like the right thing to do - we’d all want a facility like Home from Home in a time of need, and I’m proud to do my bit to raise money for it.”

Support Laura, Jan and the rest of our runners, and follow their training on social media! https://www.thewaltoncentrecharity.org/fundraisers/virtual-london-marathon-runners

 

-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 CEO dons running shoes for charity marathon…

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…