The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, part of the The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University , has received a prestigious Centre of Excellence award from leading national charity, Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The charity for more than 110,000 children and adults in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions awarded John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre (JWMDC) for providing outstanding care, promoting best practice locally and nationally and demonstrating their commitment to improving health and care for people living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions.
A real honour
Dr Chiara Marini-Bettolo, consultant neurologist and muscle team clinical lead at Newcastle Hospitals, said:
“It’s a real honour to receive the Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Centre of Excellence award in recognition of the excellent care, access to treatments and translational research that that our team provides to patients in the North-East and Cumbria and nationally through the Highly Specialised Service for limb girdle muscular dystrophies.”
In total 24 neuromuscular centres across the UK, including John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, were recognised.
The information gathered through the awards process provides a benchmark of neuromuscular services across all centres that took part in a national audit.
Supporting patients
Dr Marini-Bettolo, who is also an honorary senior lecturer at Newcastle University, added:
“We are committed and passionate in supporting patients across all ages living with a muscle wasting condition and provide excellent care, access to diagnosis and translational research. We are committed to continued improvement of our service to meet patients’ needs and be at the forefront of diagnosis, care and research.”
Catherine Woodhead, chief executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK, said:
“We would like to congratulate the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre that has been recognised with a Centre of Excellence award after a robust and rigorous assessment of their service by leading neuromuscular experts and members of the muscle wasting and weakening community. Despite continuing pressures and challenges within the NHS, these centres strive every day to ensure they promote best practice and provide an exemplary service.”
Further info:
- Muscular Dystrophy UK centres of excellence
- Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals are both part of Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (NHIP). NHIP is one of eight prestigious Academic Health Science Centres (AHSCs) across the UK, bringing together partners to deliver excellence in research, health education and patient care.
