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The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has been honoured for its vital role in advancing research-driven care for children with brain tumours.
The Royal Marsden Hospital, St George's Hospital and King's College Hospital with The Institute of Cancer Research, London, as the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network, has announced that it has been designated a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Children.
The South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network is one of four UK paediatric neuro-oncology centres to be awarded the designation today by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM).
The designation will be confirmed by Ashley Dalton, the health minister, at an event in London.
Recognition of excellence and rapid improvement
The event will also mark the launch of the new Tessa Jowell Academy for Paediatrics, a national hub for training and collaboration in paediatric neuro-oncology, providing an opportunity for the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network to share examples of excellent practice with other children’s neuro-oncology centres around the UK.
The designation of four new Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence for Children, joining the six previously designated, now means that two thirds of the UK population is now in the catchment area of a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Children. This is a major step towards ensuring that children receive excellent care irrespective of where they live.
The South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network was designated as a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence after working for the past 18 months to implement innovative new solutions. The centre’s neuro-oncology team showed an exceptional commitment to service development, bringing together a wide number of specialties to deliver impactful changes.
A rigorous review process
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 the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network for excellence in their:
- Strong integration of teams across the network, highlighted by excellent nurse outreach and collaboration, providing patients with wrap-around care throughout their treatment journey.
- Excellent imaging service, including an exemplary training programme that supports the development of highly skilled specialists.
- Comprehensive approach to follow-up support with a dedicated ‘Back on Track’ late effects clinic and aftercare service.
- Innovative use of the MyMarsden app to promote patient autonomy, streamline communication, and provide ongoing and meaningful post-treatment support.
- Exemplary integration of education support into clinical care, supported by the outstanding nursing and play specialist teams, ensuring comprehensive support for patients’ cognitive development and reintegration to school.
- Strong research activity and involvement with national and international trials, highlighting the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network’s contribution to national innovation and evidence generation.
All areas of the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network’s service now meet the Tessa Jowell Standards of Excellence, thanks to the hard work of the paediatric neuro-oncology team in delivering significant service developments, reflecting the team’s strong commitment to patient-centred care.
Centre of Excellence designation confirms the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network’s commitment not only to high-quality care today but to continually improving services for children in the years ahead.
Professor Chris Jones, Professor of Childhood Brain Tumour Biology at the Institute of Cancer Research said:
“Being designated as a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Children is a tremendous achievement for our entire network. This recognition reflects not only the dedication of teams from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, The Royal Marsden, St. George's University Hospital and King's College Hospital, but also the power of collaboration across centres. By working together, we can accelerate discoveries and translate them into better treatments for children with brain tumours—providing hope for families facing the most challenging diagnoses.”
Nicky Huskens, Chief Executive of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, said:
“Congratulations to everyone in the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network. Designation as a Centre of Excellence for Children underlines the strength of services for children with a brain tumour. The neuro-oncology team has shown its firm dedication to improving care and an impressive capacity to make meaningful changes in a tight timeframe. We look forward to continuing to work with them, helping to share their innovations and best practice with colleagues across the country.”