Sussex hospital trust named among UK's best for brain tumour treatment and research

Patients diagnosed with brain tumours in Sussex are receiving care recognised as among the best in the country, after University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust was awarded prestigious national Centre of Excellence status.

The Trust, which runs hospitals including the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, has been recognised for its outstanding standards of brain tumour treatment, specialist care and pioneering research.

University Hospitals Sussex (UHSussex) is one of just six neuro-oncology centres across the UK to receive the Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence designation this week.

The award was presented by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission during a ceremony at the Royal Society in London on Wednesday 14 October.

The recognition follows a rigorous review by medical experts, who examined the quality of treatment, patient support, research and innovation being delivered by the Trust.

It places Sussex among the country's leading centres for brain tumour care and highlights significant improvements made by specialist teams over the past two years.

Matthew White from Brighton with his family - Credit: University Hospitals Sussex

Among those benefiting from the expertise of doctors and nurses at the Royal Sussex County Hospital is 42-year-old Matthew White, from Brighton.

The father of two was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour, known as an astrocytoma, in 2023 after suffering seizures while playing football.

He underwent specialist surgery at the Brighton hospital, where surgeons successfully removed more than 80% of the tumour.

Matthew subsequently received radiotherapy and chemotherapy to help control its growth.

Although his condition remains incurable, he says advances in treatment and research are giving him hope for the future, particularly as scientists explore new therapies that could help patients live longer.

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."

University Hospitals Sussex has made major advances in brain tumour surgery, genetics, specialist nursing and rehabilitation services.

One significant development involves a new process for collecting and storing tumour samples, allowing doctors to study a patient's complete genetic information.

By examining the DNA of tumours, specialists can gain a better understanding of the genetic changes driving a person's cancer and potentially identify treatments that may be more effective.

The improvements could also create opportunities for patients in Sussex to participate in clinical trials of new medicines and therapies which might otherwise have been unavailable to them.

Dr Cressida Lorimer, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at University Hospitals Sussex, 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 Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission was established to improve treatment, care and survival for people diagnosed with brain tumours across the UK.

Its Centre of Excellence programme recognises hospitals delivering exceptionally high standards of care while encouraging improvements in research and access to new treatments.

During its assessment, the organisation praised University Hospitals Sussex for its approach to bringing together specialists from a range of medical disciplines, including neurosurgery, oncology, neurology, rehabilitation and speech and language therapy.

Reviewers were particularly impressed by the Trust's neuroradiology services, including its waiting and reporting times, as well as its support for patients experiencing neurological and cognitive symptoms.

The panel also highlighted the importance placed on patients' quality of life, with treatment decisions taking account of individual circumstances and feedback.

Specialist nurse-led care was another area singled out for praise, with the Trust recognised for the support provided to patients throughout their treatment.

Nicky Huskens, Chief Executive of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, 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."

Professor Katie Urch, Chief Medical Officer for University Hospitals Sussex, said: "This recognition is a fantastic achievement for the Trust and our staff, and a powerful example of our commitment to developing centres of excellence that deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients.

"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.”

The latest recognition means two-thirds of the UK population now live within the catchment area of a designated Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Adults.

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