UCLH Eastman Hospital Team nominated in BMJ Clinical Excellence Awards 2019

Congratulations to UCLH Eastman Dental Hospital’s facial pain team , who have been shortlisted for the 2019 BMJ Award for Clinical Leadership for their management of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) 
 
Professor Joanna Zakrzewska and colleagues have developed a multidisciplinary approach to treating patients with this debilitating condition, which presents as episodes of severe, sudden, shock-like pain in one side of the face.
 
TN patients are seen by both a specialist in facial pain and a neurosurgeon, with treatment incorporating physiotherapy, nursing support and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
 
Professor Zakrewska said: “Living with this chronic condition can be very difficult with a long diagnosis window and attacks often increasing in regularity as time goes by.
 
“A multidisciplinary approach allows us to fast-track certain treatment options such as surgery whilst additional support, such as our dedicated telephone service, helps patients cope with the worry, depression and isolation which can accompany their physical symptoms.”
 
The BMJ nomination is the latest in a string of recent successes for Professor Zakrzewska who was also awarded the Charles Tomes Medal from RCS England in March.
 
She has also been awarded prestigious grants allowing her to conduct TN research at the Institute including a study funded by the NIHR BRC grant. 
 
Good luck to all the team at the awards, which are to be held on 24 April!