A NEW £1.3million super-robot which helps perform major operations with far less trauma has been used by surgeons in East Lancashire for the first time.

Patients requiring surgery for prostate cancer at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust will now benefit from improved cancer outcomes thanks to the introduction of robotic assisted surgery at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The urology department, led by surgeons Mohan Pillai, Mohammed Masaarane – commissioned the installation of the ‘Da Vinci Robot’ to carry out removals of the prostate gland.

The technology enables doctors to go “way beyond keyhole surgery” and leads to far quicker recovery times for patients.

The robot is a first for the trust and the only Da Vinci robot used for urological surgery in Lancashire.

Surgeon, Mohan Pillai, said: “The robot brings with it huge clinical benefits for patients with improved cancer outcomes, as it gives the surgeon the opportunity to remove the prostate gland with a high degree of precision.

“This more precise cancer removal results in less pain, a shorter recovery period and hospital stay as the surgery is far less invasive; there is less requirement for radiotherapy; improved long term outcomes for continence and potency and a quicker return to normal activities.

“This is the first robot in Lancashire and the intention is to serve the whole population of the county.

“We should acknowledge the management for implementing the robot at East Lancashire as otherwise we and the population of the county would be lagging behind rest of the country.

“By investing in the robot it has given equitable health care for our patients similar to rest of the country.”

Among the first half-dozen people to undergo the revolutionary surgery in Lancashire was Brian Winder, 66, from Windermere Drive, Darwen.

The former Crown Paints worker is well known in the town as he ran the kiosk at Sunnyhurst Woods with wife Linda for 18 years.

He said: “Everything happened so quickly.

“I went for a routine health check in Darwen and asked for a prostate check.

“After the results I went for more blood tests and within weeks I’d been told I had cancer.

“Obviously it was a concerning time for me and my family but the medical people put the options in front of me very clearly.

“I was told I faced radiotherapy but they explained about the new technology.

“I didn’t hesitate to go ahead.

“It was only three weeks ago and I’m already recovering and feeling better.

“I’ve been told that previously there could have been incisions from my chest to my waist but with the robot there are just a couple of tiny scars.

“The technology is a vast improvement on traditional keyhole surgery.

“I’m a keen runner and my goal is to be up and about and jogging on the moors and lanes around here in a few weeks.

“I think the investment in this technology will benefit patients no end – it certainly has with me.”

Robotic-assisted surgical techniques for the treatment of prostate cancer is becoming more common under NHS England commissioning arrangements, with 48 per cent of all prostatectomy procedures last year performed using robotic assisted approaches.

The robot will initially be used at the Royal Blackburn Hospital within urology cancer surgery but also has the ability to work within gynaecology, colorectal, liver and bile duct surgery.

Maire Morton, divisional director for surgery and anaesthetic services at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The national incidence of prostate cancer has tripled over the past 40 year and is continuing to rise with 315 patients in East Lancashire diagnosed every year.

“This robot means that we are able to offer our patients state-of-the-art surgery which will result in a more precise removal of cancer and a far quicker recovery period as the procedure is much less invasive.”

The robot was ready for the first patients scheduled for robotic prostatectomies on June 1.

Around a dozen operations, on people from all over the county, have already been performed using it.