Neuromuscular service awarded Centre of Clinical Excellence status

Members of the neuromuscular team at Evelina London

Evelina London has been recognised for providing outstanding care for children and young people with muscle-wasting conditions.

Our neuromuscular service was awarded Centre of Clinical Excellence status by Muscular Dystrophy UK, alongside 16 other centres across the UK, by a panel of experts and patients.

Dr Elizabeth Wraige, consultant paediatric neurologist at Evelina London, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this award. Our team are extremely committed to providing our patients with the best care possible so it’s really lovely to be recognised in this way.

“Muscle-wasting conditions require a range of expertise to treat and manage, so every member of our team, including our doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and specialist nurses, play a key role in caring for our patients. Our secretarial team also provide an essential role in supporting our service.

“At Evelina London we are very fortunate to have on-site access to a wide range of specialist services that children with neuromuscular disorders need. We are also able to offer our patients the opportunity to take part in clinical trials. We are very proud of our service and constantly strive to provide the very best for our patients.”

Muscle-wasting conditions, such as muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and myopathies, cause muscles and nerves to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasingly severe disability. More than 70,000 children and adults in the UK have a muscle-wasting condition.

Our neuromuscular service cares for around 800 children with all types of muscle-wasting conditions from across the south east of England.

Rob Burley, director of campaigns at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “We would like to congratulate Evelina London, which has deservedly been awarded Centre of Clinical Excellence status.

“The hospital’s neuromuscular team provides a comprehensive service for people with muscle-wasting conditions and promotes best practice, ensuring patients have access to the best possible healthcare near where they live. Improved clinical care means faster access to treatments and potential cures.”

Centre of Clinical Excellence status

The Centres of Excellence awards recognise excellence across a range of criteria, including the care received by patients, and help to drive up the standards of clinical support for people with muscle-wasting conditions.

The awards review process began in 2012 and takes place every three years. It involves a rigorous assessment of services by experts, with a panel of health professionals and patient representatives developing the criteria for the awards. Patients’ views were also gathered as part of the review process.