Janine GriffithsLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been officially named a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for brain tumour treatment – a prestigious national recognition celebrating the highest standards in care, research, and innovation.
This rare accolade places Leeds among a select group of NHS Trusts leading the way in brain tumour care across the UK. For patients facing one of the most complex and life-altering diagnoses, this means access to some of the most advanced, compassionate treatments, including at sites such as St James’s University Hospital.
“Achieving Centre of Excellence status required a rigorous evaluation of all parts of our service, from clinical pathways to training and research,” said Mr Ryan Mathew, Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. “I’m immensely grateful to the colleagues who shaped the submission and to the many more who make our brain-tumour programme exceptional every day.”
Mr Mathew accepted the award at an official ceremony at the Francis Crick Institute in London, in front of several House of Lords peers and Tessa Jowell’s daughter.
Leeds’ designation followed a detailed assessment of its services – from its strong portfolio of clinical trials and pioneering research to its integrated model of patient care. Teams from neurosurgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, genetics, therapies, nursing, neurology, psychology and palliative care work in close collaboration to deliver a nationally recognised standard of treatment.
“We’re deeply honoured that the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission has named us a Centre of Excellence,” added Mr Mathew. “Across multiple hospital sites and specialities, our teams work as one to give every patient the most advanced, compassionate care possible.”
Brain tumours affect over 11,000 adults in the UK each year and are the biggest cancer killer of people under 40. In the absence of a cure, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) says it is committed to ensuring every patient in the UK can access the best treatment, care and research through its Centre of Excellence programme.
For patients, the designation offers more than reassurance – it means access to cutting-edge trials, technologies and research, regardless of geography.
Ashley Dalton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, praised the programme’s impact: “Every brain cancer diagnosis is life-changing for patients and their families. These centres of excellence are making a world of difference by giving patients the best care and treatment, backed by the latest research.
“That’s why I welcome this recognition for each of the fourteen centres that are showing the best of the NHS in action. Our National Cancer Plan will transform the way we approach cancers to further improve care and bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.”
The recognition also builds on Leeds’ track record for innovation. Earlier this year, a Leeds man became the first person in the world to join a new clinical trial targeting aggressive brain cancer. The trial, run from Leeds and reported by East Side Story, is part of the cutting-edge research work that contributed to the city’s Centre of Excellence status.
For the teams behind the scenes and for the patients they serve, this is a milestone that celebrates progress, perseverance and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in brain tumour care.
