Clockwise from top left: Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood, Middlesex; the neuro-oncology team at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre; the neuro-oncology team at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood (managed by East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust) neuro-oncology network has been designated a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Adults, highlighting the strength of its services for patients with a brain tumour.
UCLH and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre is one of six UK neuro-oncology centres awarded the designation by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM). The designation was confirmed by Yvette Cooper MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England Clinical Director for Cancer, at an event at the Royal Society in London.
The designation of six new Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence for Adults, joining the 14 previously designated, means that two thirds of the UK population is now in the catchment area of a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Adults. This is a major step towards ensuring that adults with a brain tumour receive excellent care irrespective of where they live.
Recognition of excellent brain tumour services
UCLH and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre was designated as a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence after working for the past 2 years to implement innovative developments to their service. The centre’s neuro-oncology team showed an exceptional commitment to service improvement, bringing together a wide range of specialties to deliver impactful changes in areas from nursing and rehabilitation, through to clinical trial delivery. The service delivered at UCLH and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre demonstrates a strong commitment to patient-centred care and thanks to the hard work of the team, now meets all of the Tessa Jowell Standards of Excellence.
The designation follows a rigorous review process which examined multiple areas of the patient pathway in detail, together with patient feedback collected by The Brain Tumour Charity. TJBCM’s panel of neuro-oncology experts particularly commended UCLH and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre for excellence in the:
- A well-resourced and innovative neuroradiology team, delivering an excellent programme of research in imaging, supported by outstanding access to advanced imaging equipment
- A leading chemo- and radiotherapy service for patients with a brain tumour, ensuring patients receive timely, effective and innovative treatment.
- An exemplary and well-resourced neurology service, which provides integrated support for patients from diagnosis through to symptom management.
- Outstanding psychological and neuropsychological support, with a well-developed and growing team delivering comprehensive care for patients’ emotional, psychological and cognitive needs across the pathway.
- Extensive brain tumour research activity, with an internationally significant portfolio spanning basic and translational brain tumour research.
Nicky Huskens, Chief Executive of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, said:
“Congratulations to the team at UCLH and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. This award is a testament to the hard work of an incredible team working above and beyond to deliver a world-class brain tumour service. Designation as a Centre of Excellence means more than just excellent care – it is a commitment to constantly improving, going further and faster for this patient group. We look forward to continued collaboration on our collective vision that every patient with a brain tumour benefits from excellent treatment, care and access to research — whoever they are, wherever they live.”
Dr Naomi Fersht, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at UCLH said:
“We are delighted to be designated a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for a second time. This award will reassure our patients, their families and carers, giving them confidence in the excellent care delivered by our teams. Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence are synonymous with the highest quality, and designation measures all aspects of care including, importantly, patient’s experience. We look forward to the ongoing work with the other centres and continuing our learning together to improve treatment and care for people living with brain cancer.”
The neuro-oncology team at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (Dr Thomas Carter, Dr Anup Vinayan and Dr James Wang) said:
“We are delighted to be recognised by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission as a Centre of Excellence alongside UCLH and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN). We are very proud of the collaborative work that we do at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre alongside our colleagues at UCLH and NHNN to deliver excellent care for our brain cancer patients.”
Newly announced centres have met or exceeded standards in treatment, care and research above those expected by the NHS.
The Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence recognises the best approaches to neuro-oncology around the UK. The programme aims to ensure that every patient with a brain tumour can access the best standard of treatment, care and research the NHS has to offer. It is a data-driven framework, driving local and national systems change.
In each centre, the whole team treating brain tumours, from surgeons and nurses through to physiotherapists, palliative care specialists and researchers, came together to undergo a rigorous assessment of their services. Centres awarded were deemed by a panel of experts to meet the high Standards of Excellence in areas including clinical care, quality of life care and access to clinical trials/research. Centre of Excellence designation confirms UCLH and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre’s commitment not only to high-quality care today but to continually improving services for adults in the years ahead.
The six newly-designated centres join the 14 designated in 2024.
The list of 20 centres is published on the Tessa Jowell Brain Mission website.
