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A 'home from home' for relatives of critically ill patients at Liverpool's brain hospital opens its doors this week.

The new accommodation has been built after a two-year fundraising campaign by The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust.

Fundraising began after Liverpool FC legend David Fairclough suggested to consultant neurosurgeon Mr Paul May that they organise a charity ball,  in memory of David's wife Jan who died from a brain aneurysm in 2011.

David and his children Tom and Sophie championed the Home from Home Appeal, which gained the support of dozens of families, past and present patients, companies and charitable trusts.

The Faircloughs were among the guests at a thank you event for major donors and supporters, held in the newly complete Home from Home in the hospital's new Sid Watkins Building.

David said: "When we started fundraising, the target of £500,000 seemed such a long way off - and here we are in the finished Home from Home. It is extremely emotional for us all."

Tom Fairclough added: "It is incredible to see the accommodation now ready for families and to think that people will benefit from what we have done; it has been great to be part of it."

His sister Sophie said: "It is a great legacy for my mum and so appropriate, because mum was so active in the local community, always volunteering and fundraising at our school and helping at our sports clubs. She would have approved that we have focussed on doing something so worthwhile." 

Huge support for the appeal also came from the family and friends of 19 year old Leah Davies from Lowton near Warrington. Leah died after a road accident in 2012 and her family launched the Love Leah Appeal, raising £60,000 for the Home from Home through numerous events and challenges.

Her father Andy Davies said: "The Home from Home project was so important to us as a family and we feel proud that Leah's legacy will carry on through the fundraising that family and friends have contributed.

“It has been such an amazing appeal bringing many people together to help create such a fabulous facility that will benefit so many other families in times of need. It's difficult to put into words the pride that we feel towards everyone who has helped this become a reality.”

The Walton Centre's Chair Ken Hoskisson and Chief Executive Chris Harrop thanked everyone who had supported the appeal in any way.

Mr Hoskisson said: "This was our Trust's first ever fundraising campaign and we have been overwhelmed by the generosity and enthusiasm of hundreds of people who have organised and attended events or made donations over the last two and a bit years.

"Thanks to this amazing support, we have been able to build high quality accommodation for families, so that we can give them somewhere to stay and take away some of the practical worry of being near loved ones when they are critically ill in our care."

Fundraising for the Home from Home will continue, so that the accommodation can be provided free of charge to families from outside the area, for the first few nights after a relative has been admitted to Critical Care.

 

Read New ‘home from home’ opens at The Walton Centre…

A neurosurgeon from Liverpool who was at the forefront of Formula 1 safety for more than 30 years, has been given a permanent tribute in the naming of a new Merseyside hospital building. 

At the invitation of F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone, Professor Sid Watkins expanded on safety improvements begun by motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart so that today, death at an F1 circuit has been all but eliminated.  

Professor Watkins has now been recognised by specialist neuroscience hospital The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, with the naming of the Sid Watkins Building. The new three-storey building which will open in January 2015, will house the Trust’s complex rehabilitation unit; pain management programme and medical training facilities; and Mersey Care’s brain injuries unit.

The naming has been welcomed by Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, who said: “Professor Sid Watkins was one of the greatest men of medicine that I have ever encountered.  His dedication to constantly finding new ways of doing things, to give people another chance to enjoy life, was a huge asset to both the world of medicine and to those who were fortunate enough to have his help and talent to provide life. 

“Professor Watkins’ contribution to saving the lives of many people in motorsport will never be forgotten and it’s absolutely appropriate that this new development will assist in ensuring that Professor Sid Watkins will be remembered forever, by the naming of this excellent facility in his honour.”

Mrs Susan Watkins said: “My husband would have been proud to know that his name has been attached to this rehabilitation facility, both its calibre and scope reflect his own attitudes to patient care, and his concern for the ongoing needs of those who suffer from neurological diseases and injuries requiring long-term treatment.   In this way it is a reflection of his life's work and, in a sense, brings him home to his roots in Liverpool.”

Professor Sid Watkins was an innovative surgeon who pioneered several frontiers in his specialty, including brain and spine stimulation, the surgery of pain and Parkinson's disease, as well as trauma. 

He was also fundamental to the development of the Royal London Hospital's helicopter emergency service and the first emergency brain scanning unit, both of which were subsequently mirrored at other major hospitals.

In parallel with his prodigious medical career was his work in Formula 1 where he radically improved not only the safety of the sport but also established methods by which sport around the world tackles risk.  He did so by working with individuals from various disciplines and by a sustained effort over several decades. 

Outside Formula 1 his work continues to deliver safety benefits in sporting activities as wide ranging as horse trials and rally car events, and his leadership in safety research has ultimately led to changes in the design of all cars.

The neurosurgeon was a close friend of the three-times F1 World Champion, Aytron Senna. Following Senna's death in 1994, Professor Watkins was appointed Chairman of the FIA Expert Advisory Safety Committee and ultimately became President of the FIA Institute of Motor Sport Safety, a role that allowed him to guide research in the design of racing cars and circuits as well as drivers' equipment - among other innovations - all with the aim of improving safety. 

He initiated trackside medical care at every F1 race and in testing, along with providing state-of-the-art medical buildings and equipment. In addition, a corp of medical and surgical experts were incorporated into Watkins’ safety concept, so that injured drivers, circuit personnel and even spectators now receive the best possible medical care at circuits around the globe.

The Walton Centre’s Chief Executive Chris Harrop said: “The idea to name this building after Professor Watkins has the full support of our doctors and I am delighted that Mrs Susan Watkins, has allowed us to recognise her husband in this way.

“He is a legendary figure and inspirational to doctors here and around the world. It is very fitting that our new building is providing fabulous facilities for patients recovering from brain injuries and illness; and for training junior doctors aspiring to be the next Professor Watkins.”

In association with the naming of the new building the hospital has also launched a 'Sid Watkins Fund' to support innovation and enhancements in the diagnosis, treatment and care of neurological injuries and illnesses.

Professor Sid Watkins - key dates:

Born: 6 September 1928 in Liverpool

1952 - Graduated from Liverpool University

1978 – Bernie Ecclestone offered him the job as F1 race doctor

1981 – Elected president of F1 medical commission

1992 – He was a founding member of Brain and Spine Foundation

1994 – Appointed Chairman of FIA Expert Advisory Safety Committee

1994 – Performed lifesaving trackside surgery on Mikka Hakkinen

2002 – Awarded the OBE

2004 – Became president of the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety

2005 – Stepped down from various FIA medical positions

2011 – Stepped down as head of FIA Institute

12 September 2012 – Professor Sid Watkins died

 

The Sid Watkins Building has been built by Interserve, an international support services and construction group.

 

Read Hospital building named after F1’s Prof Sid Watkins…

Specialist neuroscience hospital The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded the coveted Investors in People Gold standard making it one of just five NHS organisations to earn the status.

It is hoped the award – the UK's leading accreditation for people management – will help attract the brightest and best staff to the Trust which has doubled the number of staff to 1,200 in the last seven years.

Director of Workforce Mike Gibney said: “This prestigious award is an acknowledgement that, as a Trust, we are exhibiting many of the characteristics of world class people management in areas such as leadership, personal development and staff engagement.

“To be recognised with an IIP Gold standard award is a fantastic achievement and is testimony to the hard work and effort that staff in all areas of the organisation have put into this over years, not just in recent weeks.”

The Trust also successfully maintained the IIP’s Health and Wellbeing Award, which recognises strong commitment to supporting the welfare of staff.

Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People, said: “We’d like to congratulate The Walton Centre on their Gold standard. Such a high level of accreditation is the sign of great people management practice, and demonstrates a commitment to staff development and shows an organisation committed to being the very best it can be.”

 

Read The Walton Centre strikes Gold with Investors In People recognition…

Coronation Street star Ben Price who plays brain injury suffering character Nick Tilsley, officially opened The Walton Centre’s fourth MRI scanner which will improve patient care in one of the UK’s busiest neuroradiology departments.

Ben, whose character Nick suffered a horrific brain injury after a car crash, visited the specialist neuroscience hospital on Monday 28^th April, to cut a ribbon on the state-of-the-art MRI scanner that will improve the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and reduce waiting times for patients.

He said: “It has been extraordinary. If anything ever happened to me I would want to be here at The Walton Centre and in one of the best hospitals in the UK.

“Having the best equipment and staff is essential for people with brain injuries. It really is life and death and somewhere like The Walton Centre with its amazing facilities is what can make the difference.”

The Walton Centre’s Neuroradiology Department is already one of the busiest in the country and last year staff carried out about 14,000 MRIs and 7,000 CT scans.

Thanks to the new scanner, the Neuroradiology Department will be able to treat a steadily increasing number of patients.

The scanner, provided by GE Medical Systems, has a wider bore, meaning patients do not feel as tightly enclosed while undergoing an MRI scan.

Clinical Director of Neuroradiology Dr Sacha Niven said: “The addition of a fourth MRI scanner will provide sufficient scanning hours to meet the increasing demand from the neurology, neurosurgery and pain services.

”This new piece of equipment will mean that patients can be seen more quickly and the Trust can provide a full complement of MRI imaging to ensure the best levels of diagnosis and treatments.”

The new scanner, housed in an extension to the front of the hospital, was the final part of an £14 million programme of expansion and refurbishment which also included the new Chavasse Ward; an expanded Jefferson Ward; and a sixth operating theatre.

The investment programme was carried out over the last two years by contractor Kier; architect Gilling Dod and project manager Turner & Townsend.

Ben Price is a patron of brain injury charity Headway Preston & Chorley, a local branch of the national charity that supports people affected by brain injury. He sought advice from the organisation and from The Walton Centre’s Clinical Director for Neurosurgery Paul May, to accurately portray his character’s extensive injuries and gruelling rehabilitation.

Headway provides an Acute Trauma Support Nurse at the Trust who acts a link between services, supports patients and their families and helps them to improve their quality of life.

 

Read Soap star unveils state-of-the-art scanner…

Merseyside’s specialist neuroscience hospital The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust welcomed hundreds of visitors at an open day.

The event included the official opening of a newly expanded and refurbished ward, by Walton MP Steve Rotheram.

Jefferson Ward, previously for day patients only, has been rebuilt and doubled in size and now offers facilities for minor operations and short stay admissions.

Mr Rotheram said: “It is fantastic to have this centre of excellence on our doorstep in Liverpool, serving the North West and beyond. I know about the effects of neurological conditions on patients and how it impacts on the whole family, which is why I am delighted to officially open this fabulous, newly expanded ward.”

Young visitors were invited to have a go at brain surgery during career presentations by consultant neurosurgeon Mr Andrew Brodbelt. Displays and demonstrations included x-ray quizzes, coiling surgery, pain management, therapies, medical education and psychology.

Legendary Liverpool poet Levi Tafari entertained groups of visitors with performances of his poetry; and dozens of students were given information and talks about a wide range of job opportunities in the NHS.

The Walton Centre’s chief executive Dr Liz Mear said: “I was very proud to show off our wonderful staff and hospital to visitors and I think everyone who came was fascinated to learn about what goes on in our specialist hospital.”

 

Read Rebuilt ward launched during open day at The Walton Centre…

Work has now begun on a new three-storey building at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust.

Demolition of the former Elm and Magnolia Wards on the site is under way; once they have been cleared building will begin. The new building will be completed by the end of next year.

Within the existing hospital building a programme of work has already taken place, which will finish in September with the completion of the expansion of extra beds and facilities in the Jefferson Day Ward.

The building is part of the specialist neuroscience Trust’s major expansion, which will house an expanded rehabilitation unit, the Trust’s pioneering Pain Management Programme, together with relatives’ accommodation supported by the Trust’s Home from Home fundraising appeal.

The new centre is a key part of a five year plan to provide more services to more patients with brain and spine conditions. It will enable the Trust to meet key targets and provide a shorter waiting time for its increasing number of patients.

Chief Executive Liz Mear said: “I am delighted that the work has started on the new building. It will enable us to provide first class services to more patients, with extra beds and new facilities.”

 

Read Building gets under way…

Major trauma services at Aintree University Hospital and The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust have been boosted with the completion of a new link bridge connecting the hospitals.

The bridge, constructed by VINCI Construction UK, enables the seamless transfer of seriously ill patients with head injuries from the Emergency Department at Aintree University Hospital, to specialists at The Walton Centre.

Other patients will also benefit from easier and quicker transfer between hospitals for specialist treatment. Until now, patients were transferred by ambulance between the two adjacent buildings.

The increased movement of staff between the hospitals will lead to a stronger working relationship between the two NHS Trusts. And visitors using the multi storey car park will have a weather-proof walkway into both hospitals/The Walton Centre (is Aintree promoting access to visitors via the bridge?)

Dr Liz Mear, Chief Executive of the Walton Centre, said: “There are immediate benefits to patients with this new link bridge as they can be brought to us without any delay; without doubt our joint provision of major trauma services has been significantly advanced with this new bridge.”

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the UK’s only dedicated centre for neurology and neurosurgery, and patients requiring its treatment come from across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales.

Mark Thomas, Regional Director, VINCI Construction UK, Building Division – North West, said:

“With the completion of the new link-bridge the two hospitals can provide more efficient healthcare services, increasing patient recovery. Having an abundance of expertise in healthcare delivery we worked closely with the two hospitals to construct the link-bridge to the highest standard.”

The £2 million contract started in February 2012 and successfully competed in August 2012.

 

Read Trauma service boosted with completion of new link bridge between two Trusts…

A new building at The Walton Centre was given a Royal launch by staff and patients.

The Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead, performed an official ribbon cutting of Jubilee House, named to mark the Queen’s diamond year.

The event was an important milestone in a major expansion of the specialist neuroscience Trust. Jubilee House contains five teams of staff, including the internationally acclaimed Pain Management Progamme and Neuropsychology, who have moved out of the main hospital to make room for new wards and theatres.

Former Pain Management Programme patient Gemma Potts paid tribute to staff.

“The Walton Centre’s pain management programme saved my life. Six months ago I was in severe pain and very depressed; I was on lots of medication and I found it impossible to plan ahead as my life seemed to be over at the age of 22.

“Now my life has changed completely; I am off all medication, I exercise every day – and I have passed a fitness test to join the army, something I have always wanted to do but thought would never happen.”

Jubilee House also contains the Trust’s Patient Access Centre, Integrated Governance and Quality teams. Eventually they will move into a new building, which will also house an expanded, specialist rehabilitation unit.

The Walton Centre’s Pain Management Programme treats 400 patients each year and is the largest and longest running pain management programme in the UK. It is an international leader and has evolved and expanded over 28 years.

 

Read Royal launch for new building at The Walton Centre…