Latest news with #LeedsTeachingHospitals
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Heartless criminals twice break into construction site of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease
Brazen criminals have broken into the construction site of a Motor Neurone Disease centre being built in honour of inspirational rugby league star Rob Burrow. The father-of-three passed away at Pinderfield's Hospital surrounded by family following a six-year battle with the cruel disease in June of last year. The 41-year-old rugby player was first diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, only two years after retiring from a 17-season league career, where he won eight Super League titles for Leeds. Burrow, a fan favourite, alongside his former teammate Kevin Sinfield, dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for the MND community. To honour the late rugby player, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust began building a new £6.8million centre at Seacroft Hospital, with specialised facilities for MND patients and their families. But now its construction site has been hit by burglaries carried out by heartless criminals in two separate incidents, police have said. West Yorkshire Police first received reports of an ongoing burglary at the site at around 11.37pm, last Friday. Upon attending the scene, the force searched the scene and seized a number of items which included tools and a rucksack. Further investigations have discovered a burglary also happened at the construction site in the early hours of Wednesday morning on May 10, where a quantity of copper was stolen. Rob Burrow's father Geoff spoke out following reports of the Friday burglary, saying it was 'beggars belief' that criminals would steal from an MND treatment centre, adding his son 'would be looking down cursing', as he 'just wanted to help people. The family, who have been backing the facility backed by the donations and fundraising of 17,000 people within the communtiy, believed it was a 'prank' when they were told after a site visit last Friday. 'It shows how low and desperate people are to make money,' Geoff told the BBC: 'Rob wanted to help people, he was such a lovely person. 'He'd be looking down cursing them. For someone to do that beggars belief.' Leeds Hospital Charity's CEO Esther Wakeman described the incidents as 'disheartening', adding supporters would be 'unbelievably devastated' that somebody would steal from the centre. She added the centre was a 'real community effort', and would make 'such a difference' to those with MND and their families. Craige Richardson, director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, confirmed last Sunday staff were working alongside police and security for the site had been increased. Mr Richardson told the BBC: 'We are really disappointed that there have been two incidents involving theft and damage at the construction site of the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital. 'We will always take positive action against criminal activity at our hospitals, including prosecution.' Inspector Carl Robinson said: 'We are actively pursuing lines of inquiry in relation to these burglaries, which have quite understandably struck a chord with people in the community. 'I would urge anyone with information about either incident to contact us.' The Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team is now appealing for anyone with information, or any witnesses of the incidents to report it to West Yorkshire Police by calling 101 or online by quoting reference 13250276040.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Burrow family say MND site theft 'beggars belief'
The father of rugby league legend Rob Burrow has said it "beggars belief" that people could steal from the new motor neurone disease (MND) treatment centre which bears his son's name. Geoff Burrow said Rob, who died in June 2024, "just wanted to help people" and "would be looking down cursing" the thieves who targeted the Leeds site last week. The new Rob Burrow MND centre is under construction in Seacroft and is expected to open later this year. West Yorkshire Police said the force was investigating a theft on Wednesday and an attempted theft on Friday night. Geoff Burrow said the family thought it was a "prank" when they were told of the theft after they made a site visit on Friday. "It shows how low and desperate people are to make money," he said. "Rob wanted to help people, he was such a lovely person. "He'd be looking down cursing them. For someone to do that beggars belief." Leeds Hospital Charity's CEO Esther Wakeman said the new facility had been a "real community effort" with 17,000 people donating or fundraising for the development. She said the crimes were "unbelievable". "It's so disheartening," she said. "We know how hard our supporters have worked and Rob Burrow's family have committed their time and energy to raising the money for this centre." Ms Wakeman said specialised facilities for MND patients and their families would make "such a difference" and supporters would be "unbelievably devastated" to think that somebody could try to steal from the new building. West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to reports of an "ongoing burglary" at the construction site on Friday evening. A rucksack and tools were seized, police spokesperson said. Inquiries established that copper was also stolen in the early hours of Wednesday. Extra security measures had been installed at the site, Leeds Teaching Hospitals said. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North West Yorkshire Police Rob Burrow MND Centre site targeted by thieves Thousands of runners turn out in Rob Burrow's memory
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rob Burrow MND Centre site targeted by thieves
The construction site of a motor neurone disease (MND) treatment centre named after Leeds rugby league legend Rob Burrow has been targeted by thieves. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said in a statement that the two recent incidents of theft and damage at the site at Seacroft Hospital were "really disappointing". The new facility is being built with the backing of the family of Burrow, who died in June aged 41 after having been diagnosed with MND in 2019. Craige Richardson, director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said staff were working with West Yorkshire Police and extra security measures had been put in place. Mr Richardson said: "We are really disappointed that there have been two incidents involving theft and damage at the construction site of the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital. "We will always take positive action against criminal activity at our hospitals, including prosecution." Mr Richardson said the new centre was still due to open in the summer, adding that it would provide a "calm and peaceful" environment for patients. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Rob Burrow's family visit namesake MND centre Rob Burrow MND centre fundraising target hit
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Rob Burrow MND centre in Leeds targeted by thieves
The construction site of a motor neurone disease (MND) treatment centre named after Leeds rugby league legend Rob Burrow has been targeted by Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said in a statement that the two recent incidents of theft and damage at the site at Seacroft Hospital were "really disappointing".The new facility is being built with the backing of the family of Burrow, who died in June aged 41 after having been diagnosed with MND in Richardson, director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said staff were working with West Yorkshire Police and extra security measures had been put in place. Mr Richardson said: "We are really disappointed that there have been two incidents involving theft and damage at the construction site of the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital."We will always take positive action against criminal activity at our hospitals, including prosecution."Mr Richardson said the new centre was still due to open in the summer, adding that it would provide a "calm and peaceful" environment for to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Leeds hospital recognised for 'excellent' brain tumour care
A Leeds hospital trust has been recognised for its outstanding treatment of brain Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been announced as a Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Centre of Excellence - one of 14 award recognises centres that provide excellent treatment, care and research opportunities for patients with brain tumours, with services measured on several trust was originally recognised in 2021 but had to reapply last year. More than 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in the UK every year, according to the Brain Research UK Mathew, associate professor and honorary consultant neurosurgeon at the trust, accepted the formal accreditation in a London award ceremony on Thursday. "Our patients walk into this hospital and are given an awful diagnosis, but know the care they are going to receive is the very best," he said. The trust was singled out for streamlining its procedures to decrease the time from when a patient is diagnosed to when they have Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Centre for Excellence was established in 2020 to help ensure the best standards for Tessa, who died in 2018 aged 70, played a major role in securing London 2012 as culture secretary and later campaigned for the availability of further cancer treatments through the NHS. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
