Walton Centre

History

The Walton Centre originally provided services from the Walton Centre for Neurology at Walton Hospital on Rice Lane in Walton, Liverpool. However, as demand for services continued to increase, the capacity for provision at the relatively small Rice Lane site failed to keep pace and in 1998 all services were transferred to a new, purpose-built complex two miles north in Fazakerley adjacent to and adjoining Aintree University Hospital. The centre achieved NHS Trust status in 1992, and NHS Foundation Trust status in 2009.

In 2014 the Walton Centre became the first hospital in the UK to virtually open its doors to Google Street view to the main clinical areas.

It was announced, on 4 October 2022, that the centre had achieved the status of a university hospital.

Services

The Walton Centre is a specialist neurosciences NHS trust dedicated to providing comprehensive neurological, neurosurgical, pain management and rehabilitation services. The majority of patients originate from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, but for some specialist treatments of complex disorders the centre sees patients from all regions of the United Kingdom, referred by their general practitioner (GP) or other hospitals. The hospital does not have an accident and emergency department. However, alongside adjoining Aintree University Hospital, Walton acts as a designated major trauma centre and receives emergency transfers for those who have sustained neurological trauma in the region.

Performance

In 2006, the hospital was identified as "the most dangerous hospital in Merseyside and Cheshire for health workers".

There were allegations, in February 2007, that a surgeon at the hospital removed brain tissue for research purposes without the patient's consent. The samples were used to test a new treatment for brain diseases on which the surgeon was joint owner of the patent. The hospital has been criticised for not offering treatments available in the United States.

In 2015 it was named by the Health Service Journal as the second best acute specialist trust to work for. At that time it had 1,160 full-time equivalent staff and a sickness absence rate of 4.45%. 88% of staff recommend it as a place for treatment and 77% recommended it as a place to work.

In November 2015 leaders at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust were shortlisted for five separate awards.

The Walton Center became the second specialist hospital in the UK to receive the top rating by the Care Quality Commission in October 2016. It retained the status following a Care Quality Commission inspection in August 2019.

Notes

References

• Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Order 1991 S.I. 1991/2411

References

1. "My Hospital Guide 2013: Essential Reading for Smart Spending". drfosterhealth.co.uk.
2. "News". icnetwork.co.uk.
3. "Trust structure". The Walton Centre.
4. (5 September 2014). "Take a virtual tour of The Walton Centre and see inside its clinical areas". Liverpool Echo.
5. (4 October 2022). "Specialist neurosciences trust achieves University status". The Walton Centre.
6. The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust. "About Us".
7. "The Walton Centre - Merseyside and Cheshire Major Trauma Collaborative". thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk.
8. Merrick, Rob. (10 June 2006). "The most dangerous place to try to heal the sick.(News)". Daily Post (Liverpool, England).
9. Barnett, Antony. (25 February 2007). "Hospital in brain tissue allegations. Medical school accused of cover-up after claim that surgeon retained samples without consent". The Observer.
10. Innes, Caroline. (27 August 2008). "I need to raise £40,000 to beat a killer". Liverpool Echo.
11. Erwin, Alan. (15 June 2006). "CJD DAD BACKS SON'S DOCTOR IN LEGAL FIGHT; Drug pioneer sues ex-bosses.(News)". The Mirror (London, England).
12. (7 July 2015). "HSJ reveals the best places to work in 2015". Health Service Journal.
13. "The Walton Centre - Finalists for five top awards". thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk.
14. (21 October 2016). "Liverpool brain injury hospital rated 'outstanding' - BBC News". Bbc.co.uk.
15. "The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust rated as Outstanding". Care Quality Commission.