Surgical teams at Castle Hill Hospital have celebrated a major milestone at a special event, after completing 5,000 procedures using pioneering robotic technology.
The achievement was marked with an interdisciplinary symposium and educational day at the Allam Digestive Centre on Wednesday 23 September. The event brought together surgical specialists to reflect on the programme’s development and explore the future of robotic-assisted surgery.
Robotic surgery was introduced in Hull in 2015, initially for urology procedures. It has since expanded into six specialties, including gynaecological oncology, thoracic, colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, and head and neck surgery. The technology provides surgeons with greater accuracy and can help patients spend less time in hospital and recover more quickly.
The celebration included presentations from clinicians involved in the programme, demonstrations of the latest da Vinci 5 Surgical System and opportunities for attendees to test the technology. Sessions explored patient pathways, clinical outcomes, theatre efficiency, staff training and ambitions to expand access to robotic surgery.
David Bell, 56, from North Ferriby, was the 5,000th patient to undergo surgery at Castle Hill Hospital with the use of the da Vinci robot.
Having had a brush with cancer just last year in the form of a stage one melanoma, David knew when he started to experience changes in his toilet habits, the best course of action was to get checked out.
He said: “I went for a prostate examination and was referred from there for a colonoscopy. It wasn’t long before I was told by the hospital team that they had found a mass, and tests showed it was stage three colon cancer.
“In January this year, I began two rounds of chemotherapy, followed by five weeks of radiotherapy and a final two rounds of chemotherapy, before being given a date for surgery at the end of July. I didn’t realise my operation would be carried out using the robot until fairly near to the date itself, but you have to put your faith in the experts. If they say this is the best way to try and operate, you have to trust the specialists and I had the utmost confidence in them.
“There was some pain and discomfort afterwards, and that’s to be expected as they’d just completed some major surgery inside me, but you wouldn’t really know that to look at me as the incisions were so small.
“I try to stay upbeat and now that I’ve had the operation, I’ve been able to return to work and I’m also receiving one-to-one physio sessions via the Active Together service and Yorkshire Cancer Research in Hull to help with my recovery.
“The robotic surgical team, and indeed all of the staff who have cared for me along the way, have been nothing short of brilliant.”
Gary Wiles, the first patient to undergo robotic surgery through the programme, attended the celebration, bringing the journey from the first procedure to the 5,000th full circle. The Allam family were also in attendance, showing their support for the robots their contributions enabled us to purchase.
Catherine Bishop, head of community investment for Allam in the Community, said: “It’s been incredible to see how the original vision that Assem (Dr Allam) had back in 2015, and the investment into the first da Vinci robotic surgery machine, has helped patients. Now we’re looking at the 5,000th case. When you look at the feedback people have given, it really fits into how the family are wanting to build on and manage that legacy, and that vision. Also the difference it’s making to people’s lives, in terms of their health and wellbeing and ability to overcome surgery, and importantly in this day and age, the efficiency of that. The family have created Allam in the Community as a vehicle to do that, and make a difference to people’s lives.”
Matthew Simms, Urology Consultant, said: “It’s been a fantastic achievement for Hull and the Trust, and everyone who’s been involved in the project. Our robotic programme has really come on leaps and bounds over the last few years. We started back in 2015 in the urology department, but many more surgical specialities are now using it. Things will expand a lot over the next five to 10 years, so it’s a landmark that needed to be celebrated.”
Suzy Rawling, Charge Operating Department Practitioner (ODP), said: “This event has been a real team effort. It’s 5,000 cases we’re celebrating but of course it’s 5,000 patients. It’s really great for us to have the opportunity to show everyone what all the hard work we’ve put in has achieved. It’s great to share our successes and look ahead at what we can achieve. It’s a really good future for robotics.”