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Brain tumour patient proud of hospital recognition

Mark NormanSouth East health correspondent
Mark Norman/BBC A man in a hospital room wearing a brown checked shirt. He is looking at the camera and behind him there are white unit and cupboards and a dispenser on the wall for blue plastic gloves.Mark Norman/BBC
Hope is the only emotion stronger than fear according to brain cancer patient Mathew White

A brain cancer patient has said he is proud of the hospital that treats him after it was recognised for the brain tumour treatment, care and research it provides.

Father of two, Matthew White, from Brighton, was diagnosed with an incurable astrocytoma in 2023 after experiencing seizures while playing football.

The hospital, run by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, has been awarded Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status.

White said the care provided by the brain tumour teams at the Royal Sussex County Hospital had made a profound difference and the award gave him hope that there was going to be "better access to trials, better access to treatments".

"Three years on from being diagnosed, my tumour is currently stable, but stable doesn't mean cured," White said.

"Obviously we know that at some point there will be recurrence and that will lead to more treatment.

"You have to find hope. It's the only emotion that I could say is really stronger than fear."

He said he had to hope that "someone out there is working hard to find something that can help".

Family photograph A man in a hospital bed and wearing a hospital gown, with his head on a pillow. He has bandages on parts of his head, and is looking at the camera.Family photograph
Three years after being diagnosed, Mathew White says his tumour is currently stable

The trust is one of just six neuro-oncology centres nationwide to receive recognition from the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission.

Former politician Dame Tessa Jowell was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017, and died aged 70 in 2018.

The designation is awarded only to UK hospitals that meet the "highest standards of NHS brain tumour treatment, care and research".

It recognises how specialist expertise, research and innovation are being brought together to improve care and outcomes for patients with brain tumours.

Mark Norman/BBC A group of clinical staff and brain cancer patient Matthew White stand in front of a wall plaque, in silver with blue writing, which highlights the hospitals recognition by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission.Mark Norman/BBC
Staff at the hospital said the award recognised their commitment to patients

Dr Cressida Lorimer, consultant clinical oncologist, said the trust was delighted to receive the 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," she said.

The trust said it would also create potential future opportunities for Sussex patients to take part in clinical trials of new treatments that might not otherwise have been available to them.

Nicky Huskens, chief executive of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, described the award as "testament to the hard work of an incredible team working above and beyond to deliver a world-class brain tumour service".

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