UHSussex among UK’s leading brain tumour centres as Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status awarded

UHSussex said it was awarded the prestigious Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status after a ‘rigorous, peer-led review process’.

UHSussex added that this ‘coveted designation’ is awarded only to UK hospitals that meet the highest standards of NHS brain tumour treatment, care and research, and said UHSussex is one of just six neuro-oncology centres nationwide to recently receive the accolade.

UHSussex’s Dr Cressida Lorimer MA FRCR MD, Consultant Clinical Oncologist said: “We are delighted to receive this prestigious recognition. It reflects the expertise, compassion and dedication of our multidisciplinary teams, as well as our shared commitment to continually improving care for patients with brain tumours.

“This designation recognises the significant developments we have made across our services and the strength of the partnerships that underpin them. Most importantly, it recognises our commitment to ensuring patients receive the best possible care, support and access to research throughout their treatment journey.”

The designation was presented by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) at a ceremony at the Royal Society in London on Wednesday, October 14.

Nicky Huskens, Chief Executive of TJBCM, said: “Congratulations to the team at Sussex. 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.”

UHSussex said Matthew White, 42, from Brighton, was diagnosed with an incurable astrocytoma in 2023 and underwent specialist surgery at the Royal Sussex County Hospital to remove more than 80 per cent of the tumour. This was followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Matthew said: “I’m so grateful to everyone at Royal Sussex County Hospital for the incredible care I’ve received. Living with an incurable brain tumour is difficult, but knowing that the teams are constantly working to improve services and develop new research and treatment opportunities gives me real hope. For people like me, these advances could make a huge difference. My biggest hope is that new treatments become available that could help me live longer and spend more time with my family.”

UHSussex said it received praise from the TJBCM for the improvements made to its services over the past two years, alongside its commitment to patient-centred care. UHSussex also said it was commended for excellence in imaging, neurology, clinicians’ comprehensive approach to assessing patient needs, and its compassionate ‘wrap-around nurse-led care’.

Professor Katie Urch, Chief Medical Officer for UHSussex said: “The advances made by our neuro-oncology teams demonstrate how specialist expertise, underpinned by the hard work, collaboration and compassion of our teams, can deliver the very highest standards of care and make a significant difference to our patients.

“I am incredibly proud of all of our clinical teams who have made this prestigious designation possible. It is a testament to their dedication and our determination to further strengthen the quality of care for people across Sussex.”

UHSussex runs seven hopistals, which are: the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, Worthing Hospital, St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton, Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton, and Southlands Hospital in Shoreham.