CT and MRI brain/spinal scans are like a Neurosurgeon's compass whilst the Stealth Neuronavigation System is like a GPS (Global Positioning System). By rapidly processing the data from CT and MRI scans the Unit 'guides' a Surgeon around the anatomy of the brain and spine in 3-D during operations. A Stealth (or BrainLab, Sonowand, etc) Surgical Navigation Unit is now considered to be the core item of equipment in Neurosurgical Operating Theatres throughout the U.K. This highly accurate and sophisticated equipment facilitates the removal of tumour, tap fluid and implant shunts etc., with an accuracy of +/- 1mm, minimising trauma to adjacent eloquent brain / spinal tissues.

Giles Critchley writes:

On behalf of all the staff at Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre and Hurstwood Park League of Friends we are very grateful to Sally for her impressive effort to raise funds for Hurstwood Park.

At Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre we provide neurology and neurosurgery for the 1.4 million people in Sussex and the surrounding area. To do this we rely on the League of Friends to help us by providing the latest technology and equipment for surgery as well as improving the surroundings and environment for those patients who are treated here.

As Sally’s surgeon she has asked me to write something about myself. I am one of the consultant neurosurgeons at Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre. I qualified from Cambridge University and St. Thomas Hospital and completed my basic surgical training at St Georges Hospital, Crawley Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital Haywards Heath. I then trained in Manchester before being appointed as a research lecturer at Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, Wimbledon. I studied the effects of sub-arachnoid haemorrhage on the brain for my MD thesis before completing my training. Since working in Hurstwood Park I and my colleagues have been striving to improve our care for patients suffering from neurosurgical conditions and we are grateful to Sally and her friends for their help.