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King’s paediatric neurosurgical oncology service receives Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence accreditation

04 December 2025 - The designation recognises children’s neuro-oncology centres that provide excellent treatment, care and research opportunities for young patients with brain tumours

The neuro-oncology service at King’s College Hospital’s has been awarded a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence designation for the first time. The announcement was made on 2 December 2025 at an awards ceremony in London.

King’s submitted its application as part of the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network, which also includes The Royal Marsden Hospital, St. George’s University Hospital and The Institute of Cancer Research.

Each centre that applied to have their service evaluated as part of the Centre of Excellence Programme, was assessed over 168 points, covering six main areas. This was a rigorous process, set to a high standard, and reviewed by a panel of neuro-oncology experts.

The expert panel particularly commended the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network for excellence in a range of areas, including:

  • Strong integration of teams across the network, highlighted by excellent nurse outreach and collaboration, providing patients with wrap-around care throughout their treatment journey.
  • Excellent imaging service, including an exemplary training programme that supports the development of highly skilled specialists.
  • Comprehensive approach to follow-up support with a dedicated ‘Back on Track’ late effects clinic and aftercare service.
  • Exemplary integration of education support into clinical care, supported by the outstanding nursing and play specialist teams, ensuring comprehensive support for patients’ cognitive development and reintegration to school.
  • Strong research activity and involvement with national and international trials, highlighting the South London Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Network’s contribution to national innovation and evidence generation.

Mr Bassel Zebian, Consultant Paediatric and Adult Neurosurgeon at King’s College Hospital, and lead for paediatric, teenage and young adult neurosurgery, said: “We are delighted to receive the Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence designation for our paediatric neurosurgical oncology service.

“At King’s, we are proud to deliver the highest standards of patient care, cutting-edge neurosurgical interventions, and access to ground-breaking clinical trials to help further advance our understanding and treatment of brain tumours in children, teenagers and young adults.

“This designation is a direct result of the cross-specialty collaboration that we pride ourselves on at King’s, with everyone working as one team in the best interests of some of our most vulnerable patients and their families.”

The three-year accreditation runs until 2028.