Greater Manchester Muscle Disease Unit at Salford Royal Hospital has been named a Centre of Excellence by leading national charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The Salford Royal centre has been awarded for providing outstanding care, promoting best practice locally and nationally and demonstrating their commitment to improving health and care for people living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions.
The unit was set up in 2020 to improve the care for people living with muscle wasting conditions and is the main treatment centre for people with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and other muscle wasting conditions living in the north west of England.
Dr James Lilleker, consultant neurologist at the Greater Manchester Muscle Disease Unit, said: “It is a real honour to receive the Muscular Dystrophy UK Centre of Excellence award for the first time.
“Our team has grown over recent years and now includes dedicated nursing and physiotherapy support. We pride ourselves in supporting people living with muscle wasting conditions and providing an excellent standard of care.”
The team includes consultant neurologists, physiotherapists, orthotitics, specialist nursing and support staff and is at the forefront of delivering novel treatments for muscle wasting conditions. There are ongoing research projects at the centre contributing new findings to help find cures for these disabling conditions.
Phillip Kelly, highly specialist neuromuscular nurse and care advisor at the Greater Manchester Muscle Disease Unit, added: “It is a privilege to be recognised as a Muscular Dystrophy UK Centre of Excellence.
“The whole team have worked tirelessly to develop and sustain neuromuscular services for adult patients with rare genetic muscle wasting conditions. We will use this as stepping stone to further develop and improve our service offering and continue to strive for our goal of becoming a world-leading neuromuscular centre.”
Catherine Woodhead, chief executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “We would like to congratulate Greater Manchester Muscle Disease Unit that has been recognised with a Centre of Excellence award after a robust and rigorous assessment of their service by leading neuromuscular experts and members of the muscle wasting and weakening community.
"The findings from our Centre of Excellence awards demonstrate that many centres continue to require investment to develop specialist multi-disciplinary teams that can provide the best care possible along with a working environment that fosters the ability to conduct or support excellent research and clinical trials to advance treatments and other scientific progress.”
Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Centres of Excellence awards take place every three years and reviews information, a range of case studies and examples of best practice as well as assessing the way neuromuscular services are organised and how people using the services can access them.
For further information on Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Centre of Excellence awards visit: musculardystrophyuk.org/centreofexcellenceawards