The Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow and Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) have become Scotland’s first paediatric units to receive the prestigious Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Children designation.
This accolade recognises outstanding standards of care for children diagnosed with brain tumours and places both hospitals among only six paediatric centres across the UK to achieve this honour.
Each year, the RHC team cares for around 30 children newly diagnosed with brain tumours, providing world-class treatment and support for families during the most challenging times.
The Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Children designation follows a rigorous assessment by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM), a convening body with over 13 member organisations and delivers transformative national programmes supporting the NHS neuro-oncology services in the UK.
Glasgow and Aberdeen were 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.
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 Glasgow & Aberdeen for excellence in their:
- Impressive access to chemotherapy across a large geographical area, allowing patients to access treatment close to home.
- Strong integration of teams across the network, providing patients with truly cohesive, wrap-around care throughout the treatment journey.
- Exemplary radiotherapy service delivered by a highly skilled team.
- Strong rehabilitation and play services, with proactive follow-up by neurorehabilitation specialists and excellent access to outpatient therapy, reflecting a strong commitment to meaningful recovery beyond treatment.
Emer Campbell, Clinical Lead of Paediatric Neurosurgery at the Royal Hospital for Children, said:
“This recognition reflects the outstanding commitment and expertise of our neuro-oncology teams across Glasgow and Aberdeen. This achievement is no small feat, it demonstrates our dedication to delivering world-class care, driving innovation, and supporting families every step of the way. Every member of the team’s hard work, compassion, and relentless focus on children and families made this possible.”
Fiona Herd, consultant paediatric oncologist at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, added:
“We are proud to be recognised for providing outstanding care for children diagnosed with brain tumours right across the North of Scotland. This is testament to fantastic team work and many dedicated members of staff who are absolutely committed to providing patient and family centred care excellence.”
Nicky Huskens, Chief Executive of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, said:
“Congratulations to everyone in Glasgow and Aberdeen’s paediatric neuro-oncology service. 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.”
