The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) recently made international waves for reaching an incredible milestone in medical technology. They have conducted robotic surgeries successfully for the bowel cancer patient, so far. On one Thursday last month, 68-year-old Mandy Lee—known as “Mandy the Mover”—became an instant legend. She was the first patient to receive a new procedure that removed a section of her bowel. Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon Sudhaker Mangam is one of the leaders of the pioneering operation. This major achievement is a game changer for patients requiring surgical intervention in East Kent.
Mandy Lee, pictured with her children, was able to receive the surgery she needed following diagnosis with bowel cancer. Before the procedure, she was worried and shared her concerns with the medical team. Ancestors told her that such robotic surgeries had been performed at other hospitals in Europe with successful outcomes. Lee said the medical staff was very clear about showing and explaining the process, which helped calm her fears.
“It was a bit of a scary thought, I hadn’t even considered the possibility of robotic surgery, but I just wanted the cancer gone and I wasn’t put off.” – Mandy Lee
The robotic surgical system used in Lee’s surgery has four arms that the surgeon controls from a remote console. This technology provides an unprecedented look into the 3D anatomy of the patient, allowing for greater precision during the procedure. The team promised Lee that this new approach would cause her less pain than traditional, more invasive surgical procedures.
Stanley Russell is the second patient to benefit from the new robotic surgery at QEQM. He commended the medical team for their constant and detailed explanation during the entire procedure. He stated,
“The team explained everything really well and said it would be less painful than going through more invasive surgery, so that made sense to me.”
When she talked with us on Sunday, 3 days after her operation, Lee was feeling much improved every day and was still in the hospital. CEO Sudhaker Mangam underscored the importance of this advancement for area patients, saying,
“This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.”
Robotic surgery joined the NHS in London this year. Now, QEQM is rolling out this smart new technology, delivering new hope for patients battling the same difficult health challenges. Robotic tech is growing quickly. One of its main goals is to improve surgical practices and patient recovery experiences across the region.