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This page has been written by the Brain Tumour Service Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH Foundation Trust.
It is intended for patients (and their families or carers) who have been diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The aim of the page is to provide a brief introduction to the members of our team, explain their role and how they may be involved in your care. It also aims to guide you through the pathway from diagnosis, management and follow up.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask your Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or a member of the team caring for you.
Your care will take place between The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) and University College London Hospital (UCLH) or a Cancer Centre nearer to your home.
The Multidisciplinary team (also called the MDT) is a team of experts with specialist knowledge and skills in the treatment and care of brain tumours; it includes doctors, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. The MDT looks after patients with all types of brain tumours and work out the best way of managing patients in a weekly MDT meeting.
The Neurosurgical MDT Meeting is the main brain tumour meeting which takes place once a week to discuss our patients’ treatment plan. All members have an opportunity to take part in the meeting to ensure our patients receive the best care. The discussions in these meetings are recorded and used to guide your treatment. Your GP will be sent a copy of this record.
The Rehabilitation MDT meets formally every month to discuss patients’ care needs to ensure referral to the appropriate community teams. The outcomes from meetings are recorded and help guide your treatment. Your GP will also be sent a copy of this record.
Neurosurgeon
A neurosurgeon is a surgical doctor who specialises in surgery of the brain and spine.
Neurologist
A neurologist is a doctor specialising in diseases of the brain and nerves. They diagnose and monitor brain tumours that cannot be operated on and manage brain tumour related symptoms such as seizures.
Clinical / Medical Oncologist
A clinical oncologist is a doctor who specialises in the treatment of patients using radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Palliative Care Specialist
A palliative care specialist is a doctor who assesses and manages the symptoms of brain tumours: they offer supportive care and complex symptom control.
Neuroradiologist
A neuroradiologist is a doctor who specialises in the interpretation of radiological examinations such as x-ray and MRI or CT scans.
Neuropathologist
A neuropathologist is a pathologist specialising in the examination of tissue of the brain or spine removed during an operation.
Neurotherapist
A neurotherapist is a therapist who specialises in the assessment and treatment of patients with disabilities caused by brain or spine problems.
Neuropsychologist
A neuropsychologist is a psychologist who carries out assessments to help detect any problems with cognition (thinking skills), mood and behaviour and assists in developing a treatment plan.
In addition, we have numerous specialists involved in clinical trials and research into brain tumours.
Not all the MDT will be involved in your care, but we will refer you to other members of the team if it is necessary.
A CNS is a qualified nurse who has done additional specialist training in the care of patients with a particular type of disease or condition.
All our CNSs are experienced in neurosurgical and oncology care. Once you have been diagnosed with a brain tumour you will have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, or a Support Worker attached to that team. You can access the CNS via the Brain Tumour Office on 020 3448 8830 at NHNN or your local Cancer Centre.
They will support you through this time and help navigate you through the journey known as the brain tumour pathway. Throughout the pathway they will be a single point of contact for you and your family should you have questions about your diagnosis, symptoms related to your condition or queries about your medication. They will also be able to provide you with information (written and verbal) about your diagnosis and treatment. They will also be able to offer you advice and support or direct you to other support agencies. The CNS works closely with your team and can be contacted outside of your clinic appointments.
The CNS service can provide support with many aspects of living with a brain tumour such as physical, emotional, social and financial needs.
Your CNS will talk to you about completing a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA). This is a process designed to enable you to share information with your team which is important to the treatment and care you receive.
You do not have to have a HNA but many people find it opens up discussions with their team about their concerns which may not be otherwise raised.
If you feel a HNA would be helpful, please talk to your CNS.
A key worker is a healthcare professional who is highly involved in your care and will also lead on specific aspects of your care.
This role of key worker may transfer from one professional to another at different times during your care.
A key worker can be any member of the MDT, but you will also have access to a CNS. Your CNS may also be your key worker.
Our MDT coordinators and administrative staff help us ensure that referrals and scans we receive from other hospitals are available for the MDT meetings. They also ensure that the MDT discussion is then communicated to your hospital team as well as your GP.
The administrative office can signpost you to a CNS; they can help with appointments and scans or contact your medical team if necessary.
You can contact all Clinical Nurse Specialists via single point of access telephone number on 0203 448 8830.
Before diagnosis of a suspected brain tumour
You may have attended your GP or your local Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) with worrying symptoms. On initial assessment, you require further investigations.
Diagnosis of a suspected brain tumour
You have now had a brain scan (CT or MRI) and there is a suspicion of a brain tumour. Your GP or the A&E department will now refer you to a specialist brain tumour MDT for further advice.
Access to a Specialist Brain Tumour MDT
Your case will be referred to the Specialist Brain Tumour Team at UCLH for discussion at our meeting.
At this meeting a management plan is made.
You will then be:
- Referred to a more appropriate team locally or back to your GP. Depending on your symptoms and complaints your GP will help source local support for you.
- Booked in to see a member of the MDT for further review and investigations if required. This will take place at either the NHNN or UCLH. The secretarial team will arrange your appointment and contact you by telephone or post. If you do not have an appointment within two weeks, please contact the Brain Tumour Office at NHNN on 020 3448 8830.
- Transferred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) as an emergency. To confirm the type of brain tumour it may be necessary to obtain a tissue specimen by having an operation. A neurosurgeon will perform the operation. You should expect to be in hospital for about four to seven days.
After surgery
Your care including the results of your surgery will be discussed at our weekly Neurosurgical MDT meeting. A management plan will be developed within a week to 10 days.
After you have recovered from your surgery you will be discharged home, or you will be transferred back to your local hospital.
Before discharge, you will be given a date when to return to the hospital, which should be within seven to 10 days to discuss the results of the surgery. Some results, however, take extra time and should this be the case you will be informed accordingly.
At your diagnosis we will discuss your results and the future management plan with the neurosurgical team and a CNS. You will be given written information about your diagnosis and future treatment options at this meeting. If you are to have surveillance at NHNN you will be given the details of the team’s secretary.
However, should you require an oncology team opinion/ treatment, this referral will occur after this meeting, and you will meet that team in due course – this is likely to be within one week of diagnosis.
The MDT will determine if:
- You will be followed up by the specialist team in clinic with serial scans, or
- You will require further oncology treatment. This may be radiotherapy or chemotherapy or both. You will be referred to either an oncology centre closer to where you live or to a consultant at UCLH, or
- You would benefit more from supportive care in the community; this would be coordinated by your GP and local community teams.
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DVLA regulations
After surgery or because of seizures you will be restricted from driving for a period of time. This may be from as little as six months to two years. You must inform the DVLA.
Freedom Pass
You may be entitled to a Freedom Pass from your local council. Please contact with your local council office for further information.
Free prescriptions
As a result of long-term seizure medication or diagnosis of cancer you will be entitled to free prescriptions – speak to your GP for further details.
Information about surgery
Your team will talk to you about surgery and answer any questions you may have; they will also give you a booklet called ‘Having a craniotomy or biopsy for a suspected brain tumour’. If you have not received a booklet or would like another copy please contact the Brain Tumour Unit directly.
Your team will provide you with written information at all stages throughout your pathway. If there is further information you would like, please do not hesitate to contact your CNS or the Support Worker.
Macmillan Support and Information Service
Patients attending UCLH and NHNN will have access to the Macmillan Support and Information Service, located at the UCLH Macmillan Cancer Centre. Some of the services offered are:
- welfare and benefits advice
- support and information drop-in service
- support groups.
For more information, please call 0203 447 8663 or email uclh.
Patients referred to Mount Vernon Hospital will have access to the Lynda Jackson Centre for support services, please contact them on 01923 844 014.
GP Surgery
Remember, your GP is still a key person in your pathway. Should you be diagnosed with high grade/malignant tumour it would be important to be in regular contact with your GP to ensure you have appropriate support in the community.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS is a patient friendly, easy to access service designed to provide a personal contact point to assist patients, relatives and carers.
Telephone: 020 7676 2023
Email: PALS
UCLH Medicines Helpline
Can answer questions about your medicines.
Telephone: 0203 447 9779
Hospital Funded Transport
Hospital transport is available for eligible patients. Please contact the Transport Department for an assessment.
Telephone: 020 3456 7010 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
NHS Choices
You can find out more about NHS services and leave feedback about your experience at the NHNN at the NHS Choices website at www.
Brain Tumour Office
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Queen Square
London
WC1N 3BG
Direct line: 020 3448 8830
Fax number: 020 3448 8832
Switchboard: 0845 155 5000 / 020 3456 7890
Email: uclh.
Website: www.
Key Worker/CNS: Brain Tumour Unit direct line: 020 3448 8830
Your surgeon is:
Page last updated: 11 June 2024
Review due: 01 May 2027