UCLH is the home of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) and a world-class radiotherapy centre, being a regional centre for sarcoma patients and the largest paediatric radiotherapy service in the UK. Neurosurgery and oncology are at the top of our priorities. The services include specialist clinicians, clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals, who offer a comprehensive Neuro-oncology service covering the whole spectrum of brain and spinal tumours.

The Neuro-oncology MDT works across the NHNN, UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre and University College Hospital (UCH) and deals with both primary and secondary tumours of CNS in the adult and adolescent population. Patients with suspected or newly diagnosed tumours of the CNS are referred to the service through either neurology or neurosurgery at NHNN by general practitioners (GPs), accident and emergency departments or other acute medical services.

Patients may be seen as an outpatient or referred as an inpatient in emergency cases for assessment in our specialist brain tumour ward, the Molly Lane Fox (MLF) unit, or other inpatient wards at NHNN. Adolescent patients requiring assessment or inpatient treatment are transferred to the Children’s and Young People’s Cancer (CYPC) ward at the UCH.

UCLH is the only Supra-Centre in England to deliver Intracranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Radiotherapy Services (SRS/SRT) as part of an integrated neurosurgical and Neuro-oncology service to patients. UCLH provide the following services to the following areas:

  • Neuro-oncology, skull base and pituitary tumours referrals are accepted from the North & North West London Neurosurgical Network
  • Vascular and non-tumour includes & paediatric, referrals are accepted from the London, South & South West of England Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Networks
  • Paediatric Neuro-oncology SRS/SRT, referrals are accepted from the London, South & South West of England Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Networks

We are an established provider of high-quality SRS/SRT treatment with a strong focus on the patient experience, with the skills and capacity to treat the full range of indications. A collaborative and expansive research programme has been implemented drawing on the combined expertise, from NHNN, UCL, the Macmillan Cancer Centre and in conjunction with other providers and international collaborators.

Patient contact

Service management

Other contact information

Children and young people's cancer services University College Hospital

Inpatients:

T11 (under 12-year-olds) and T12 (13- to 18-year-olds)
235 Euston Road
London, NW1 2BU

Outpatients:

(13-24) MacMillan Cancer Centre
TYA, 3rd floor
Huntley St, London WC1E 6AG

(Under 13s)Lower Ground Floor
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing
235 Euston Road
London, NW1 2BU

Address

Stereotactic radiosurgery services
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
The Gamma Knife Centre at QSRC
Queen Square
London
WC1N 3BG

GP contact

Other referral information

Fractionated (3 to 5 fraction) radiosurgery is given on the Trubeam linear accelerator at UCLH. Further referrals should be sent to the following address:

Dr N Fersht
University College Hospital
235 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BU

Referral address

Mr Neil Kitchen
The Gamma Knife Centre at QSRC
National Hospital For Neurology and Neurosurgery
Queen Square
London
WC1N 3BG

The following conditions are treated with all patients being strictly put through MDT discussion before accepting for treatment:

  • Metastatic Brain Tumours
  • Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Cavernoma
  • Meningiomas
  • Acoustic Neuromas
  • Pituitary tumours
  • Other brain tumours

Radiation treatments are designed to stop the growth of tumours or dysfunctional tissue. This means that the effect will be seen over a period of weeks or months. The team will stay in contact with you and your referring Consultant to assess your progress. Follow-up imaging such as MRI or CT may be undertaken 3-12 months after treatment to assess the progress of the treatment.

As a leader in clinical research, UCLH is committed to research and dissemination of knowledge and has robust arrangements for participating in complex trials, governed by our research and ethics committees. The NSMDTs have strong links to both clinical and translational research within UCLH, UCL Cancer Institute, the Samantha Dixon Brain Cancer Unit and the Institute of Neurology. Neurosciences research is a key strategic priority for UCL. This multidisciplinary approach to research fosters an atmosphere of academic excellence and ensures we remain at the forefront of clinical research.

Clinical research fellows have been appointed for SRS and SRT. Particular research interests include radiotherapy research, clinical drug trials, novel imaging of patients with brain tumours and molecular biology of brain tumours. We are participating/leading a number of SRS clinical trials and further information can be found at http://www.queensquaregammaknife.co.uk/clinical-trials/ 

We are a pilot centre for the Leksell registry, which provides a global SRS/SRT data repository to underpin research efforts and could prove to be an invaluable tool benefiting learning and improved patient outcomes, policy development, commissioning, protocol and treatment planning improvements.