Publications

Read the Centre of Excellence Designation Report here 

The report presents extensive insights, collected in 2020-2022,  into 28 of the 30 NHS brain cancer centres in the UK.  It highlights significant geographical variation in treatment and care and sets out how to level up services. The report presents the most comprehensive dataset on NHS brain cancer services ever collected, providing the Mission with a unique strategic overview on how to drive change and innovation nationally.

It reveals striking variation in brain cancer services across the UK, with disparities in the design, quality and extent of the treatment and care pathway. In all hospitals reviewed, treatment was delivered according to internationally recognised standards by a motivated team: however there was notable variability in access to genetic testing of tumour samples, involvement in clinical studies and the extent of nurse and allied health-led services. All of which have the potential to impact patient experience and outcomes.

Since the inception of the TJBCM four and a half years ago, we have sought to convene the broad landscape of brain tumour treatment, research and advocacy to deliver transformational programmes. The last 12 months have been the Mission’s most productive and impactful to date and we have incorporated as a Community Interest Company, enabling the Mission to work to the highest possible standards. This report outlines the Mission’s impact in 2021-22.

Founded in April 2018, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission was set up to design and deliver a new national strategy to tackle brain tumours following a round-table hosted by the Government. The leadership team of the Brain Cancer Mission has worked with national stakeholders to design and deliver programmes to accelerate research, advance the UK’s trial infrastructure, create NHS training programmes and transform care for today’s patients. In this paper, our team seeks to share some of the most important lessons learned and describe the challenges encountered throughout our four
and a half year journey. In this time, we have built a reputable process during which the Mission life-cycle evolved through four different phases. We also provide a checklist to help prepare other teams to deliver their objectives effectively in the high-profile environments in which Missions are typically launched.

The idea of an Academy to support the work of UK brain tumour centres was conceived by Prof Richard Gilbertson (TJBCM’s Chair), during the planning stages of the Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence programme. Throughout the duration of this programme, we witnessed 28 centres showcasing their brilliant areas of excellence. Centres spoke openly about their challenges and their desire to jointly address these.

Since launching the platform six months ago, we are humbled by the high number of sign-ups (over 650), which is more than double our original aim. We are pleased with the high engagement from our members, driven by active engagement in our workshops, connecting with peers through our dedicated tool and submission of materials to our Resource Library. Ultimately, it is seeing that the platform is making a difference to its members and the care they deliver on a daily basis that makes us happiest. Read through the Academy’s Impact since launching in 2021-22.