Having been recognised for outstanding care, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals’ Paediatric Neuromuscular Service has officially received a prestigious Centre of Excellence award from leading national charity, Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The charity, which helps more than 110,000 children and adults in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions, awarded the Trust’s service for promoting best practice locally and nationally and demonstrating their commitment to improving health and care for patients.
Rob Burley, MDUK Director of Care, Campaigns and Support, travelled to Royal Preston Hospital to present the ‘Centre Pursuing Clinical Excellence with Research’ award to Dr Christian De Goede Consultant Paediatric Neurologist and his team.
They were supported by colleagues past and present, the trust’s senior leadership team, with Trust Chief Executive Silas Nicholls and Chief Medical Officer Dr Gerry Skailes in attendance.
Dr DeGoede shared his vision and success, but also the history of paediatrics and neurology at the Trust.
Gordon Hesling was, in 1950, appointed to the newly-created post of consultant paediatrician to the Preston, Chorley, Blackpool and Fylde regions. He later became the chairman of the medical executive committee, which was involved in the detailed commissioning of the new Royal Preston Hospital, where there is a memorial recognising his outstanding contribution to paediatrics.
Neil Gordon – known as the "wise grand old man of UK paediatric neurology" - was a neurologist who was born and trained in Edinburgh who later moved to Preston and became one of the first paediatric neurologists north of London, based at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. He trained Pam Tomlin, who was Dr De Goede’s predecessor and helped set up a neurology centre in Preston.
Pam was invited back to attend the presentation in the Education Centre, and it was a pleasure to have Pam present at this award ceremony.
Dr De Goede took over from Pam in 2006 and he said: “A large part of the service was already set up by Pam, and in 2013 we managed to set up the neuromuscular team. We have a wonderful team with complimentary skills, and I am very proud of the recognition of our team, which provides excellent care to all the children with muscle conditions and their families in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
“Their clinical skills, their passion to look after the children and their families and their motivation to constantly improve the service has been phenomenal.”
Rob Burley added: “One of the things MDUK does is help provide access to the right NHS care, so we work hard to ensure the standard of care across the NHS is the right standard. The audit helps us to map and understand the services across the UK and share that information, identify best practice and common challenges.
“It’s a robust process that takes place every three years, and I’m delighted to be able to present the award to the Trust – what came through the audit is that this is a fantastic team, the research came through strongly, and work around being part of the regional network.”
Silas Nicholls was proud of the award: “All of us are stood on the shoulders of giants, in terms of how we develop services over many years, and it is great to see how the service has come on over a long period, and how the treatments we are able to offer have developed as well.
“Healthcare is a team responsibility, and this award, and the energy and enthusiasm of this team, reminds me how important teamwork is, and this is clearly an excellent team.”
