Edinburgh Centre of Neuro-oncology chosen as Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence

The Edinburgh Centre for Neuro-Oncology, based at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Young People/Division of Clinical Neurosciences Hospital, and the Western General Hospital, has been awarded Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence Status. Many of the neurosurgeons and neuro-oncologists are also researchers in the Centre for Clincial Brain Sciences; Dr Paul Brennan, Dr Robin Grant, Dr Ally Rooney, Professor Colin Smith and Professor Adam Waldman. Congratulations  to everyone in the Team for this wonderful acheivement.

Three years ago, Baroness Tessa Jowell gave her powerful speech in the House of Lords recognising the need to improve brain tumour treatment, care and survival for all patients. With 12,000 people diagnosed with a brain tumour every year, there has never been a more important time to recognise the work of the teams that help patients through their brain tumour journey.

Nine centres across the UK were selected  for their excellence across clinical practice, patient care and research and truly embodied the human-centred culture of kindness and compassion that Tessa Jowell advocated for during her lifetime, providing wraparound holistic care that meets a patient where they are.

Centres were measured on a range of criteria including excellent clinical practice and training opportunities; emphasis on patient quality of life; providing clinical trials and offering a high standard of research opportunities. Led by a committee of experts in the field and with virtual site visits, the assessments were backed up by patient feedback collected by The Brain Tumour Charity about the care they received in these centres.

At least 88,000 British people are currently living with a brain tumour but over 5,000 people a year will lose their lives to it . The “Excellence” status provides reassurance about the availability of excellent care within the NHS and positive recognition for its staff at [Hospital] who, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, continue to go above and beyond for their patients. Due to the strain Covid-19 has placed on the NHS, [Hospital]’s brain tumour centre, which opened in [year], now offers virtual clinics for patients.