The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in East Kent has taken a significant step forward in surgical technology. Best of all, they did it while raising their residents’ collective health by bringing a cutting-edge robotic surgical system into their operating rooms! The NHS rolled out the robot to east London earlier this year. It has four robotic arms that allow surgeons to conduct delicate operations from a distance.
On a Thursday, 68-year-old Mandy Lee underwent surgery to remove part of her bowel after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. The operation was conducted by consultant colorectal and general surgeon Sudhaker Mangam, who led the procedure utilizing the advanced robotic system. Lee was back home within three days after the surgery, a testament to how effective this new technology can be.
I hadn’t even considered the possibility of robotic surgery, but I just wanted the cancer gone and I wasn’t put off. That was always Lee’s fear, she said, from the early days when the unique approach was still in its infancy.
The robotic system provides surgeons with a 3D view inside the patient’s body, enhancing their ability to navigate complex structures with precision. This progress brings a host of benefits for patients across the region.
He emphasised that this is a huge step towards more surgical specialisms becoming available to patients in east Kent. This new technology will enable higher precision, better results and lower recovery times.
This week, Stanley Russell, a Herne Bay resident, became the second patient to receive treatment using the new robotic technology. This pioneering new treatment was performed at QEQM. He said he was thankful that the medical team explained all the advantages of robotic surgery in such detail.
The team was fully transparent and informative during the process. They promised it wouldn’t be as painful as cutting open my knee to perform surgery. This sounded like a dream come true. Russell noted.
The robot has thus far delivered eye-popping outcomes throughout many areas in Europe. That accomplishment lays the groundwork for its thrilling rollout across the UK. Under the leadership of Lee and Russell, QEQM Hospital has thrived. Now the hospital is prepared to adopt robotic-assisted surgeries as standard operating procedure.
Patients and surgeons have enthusiastically adopted this innovation. Robotic surgery now has the opportunity to revolutionise the future of operating procedures in East Kent and further afield.