Muscular Dystrophy UK has awarded the service with ‘Centre of Excellence’ status, following a rigorous UK-wide audit of neuromuscular services by a panel of experts.
The audit was carried out to recognise high-quality care provided to people with muscle-wasting conditions – of which there are 70,000 in the UK. The Cambridge service is now only one of 10 neuromuscular centres in the UK to meet the charity’s specialist criteria.
One family who has benefited from the service’s expertise are the Ruthvens, from Southwold. Their seven-year old son, Alexis, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at six months old, has received specialist care at the service for the last four years. Alexis’ mother, Katrina, tells how the service has been instrumental in helping manage his condition through care such as physiotherapy, and has given valuable advice to the family.
Katrina said: “We used to commute all the way to London for Alexis’ specialist care. So it is brilliant to have such an expert service that is so local to us. The care is incredibly family-orientated through Dr Gautam Ambegaonkar and the team, which really makes us feel well looked after. Addenbrooke’s has a great support network thanks to their neuromuscular nurse. We always take home practical advice that we, as a family, can put into action – we’re really grateful to have such support locally.”
Robert Meadowcroft, Chief Executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK said:“I am delighted to be in Cambridge today to recognise the Addenbrooke’s Neuromuscular Service for its outstanding neuromuscular specialist care. The right specialist care can transform quality of life, and in many cases, extend the lives of children and adults living with muscle-wasting conditions. We warmly congratulate Dr Brierley and Dr Ambegaonkar and the excellent team in Cambridge for the high standards and expertise that we hope will be adopted in other parts of the country.”
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For more information please contact Senior Press Officer Matt Hepburn on 0207 803 2887 or email: m.hepburn@musculardystrophyuk.org
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Cambridge Neuromuscular Service wins national award for ‘outstanding’ care
1 March 2016
The Addenbrooke’s Neuromuscular Service at Cambridge University Hospital has today received a national award in recognition of its ‘outstanding’ care for people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions.