EAST Lancashire’s £1.3m robot ‘super-surgeon’ has been given the green light to expand the number of patients and cancers it treats.

The revolutionary machine, known as the Da Vinci Robot, has been designated by NHS England as the sole ‘centre of excellence’ for the cutting edge technology across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

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The machine, which operates under the supervision of a surgical team, was initially installed at the Royal Blackburn Hospital 12 months ago to allow faster and better operations on prostate growths, reducing pain and recovery times for patients.

Clinical director Shahid Islam now expects the annual number of patients it treats to rise from 62 to more than 200, turning the loss maker into a major income source for the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mr Islam revealed the range of conditions tackled by the surgical device will also increase from just prostate cancer to include malignant growths in the bladder, kidneys, liver bowel, head and neck as well as gynaecological problems.

Before the investment, prostate cancer sufferers in East Lancashire opting for robotic rather than traditional ‘keyhole’ surgery were referred to Manchester’s Christie or Cambridge’s Addenbrooke’s hospitals.

Mr Islam hailed the accreditation by the NHS England Special Commissioners as ‘a great day for everyone involved at the trust and patients across East Lancashire and the North-West’.

Russ McLean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patients’ Voice, said: “This is brilliant news.

“There will be hospitals across the rest of England very envious of this.

“The initial investment in this machine, even though it would initially lose them money, is a sign of the trust’s far-sightedness.”

Darwen’s Brian Winder, was one of the first patients to be treated by the robot.

He said: “This technology benefits patients no end as it certainly has with me.

“It is a vast improvement on traditional keyhole surgery.”

The confirmation of the Royal Blackburn as the sole site for robotic cancer surgery across the Lancashire and South Cumbria after 12 months of careful assessment will make it easier for GPs to refer patients.

It will also pave the way for increasing specialist surgery at the Royal Blackburn while improving and extending routine ‘elective’ surgery at the Burnley General Hospital.

Consultant Urological Surgeon Mr Islam said: “I am delighted.

“The robot is all about better outcomes and care for patients and it is right that all who live in this area should have access to this state-of-the-art technology and surgeons trained to use it.

“Patients receiving care in other hospitals in Lancashire can now be treated here, either by their surgeons undergoing training to use the robot or by those patients being referred to our surgeons.

“The robot surgery is quicker and less painful for patients with a much faster recovery time.

“We used to do 50 keyhole operations annually and last year we did 62.

“Now the number of patients will rise as we extend its use from prostate to other cancers, starting shortly with bladder cancers and partial removal of kidneys.

“We hope to extend it to cancers of the liver, the bowel and the head and neck as well as gynaecological cancers.

“Initially the trust lost money on each use of the machine as we were paid the lower rate for keyhole surgery rather than robotic surgery but we will now get the full rate per referral.

“I would expect to see the numbers treated by the robot to double in the next year and then rise to above 200 a year.

“We initially invested in the machine because it is better for patients but break-even point is 150 operations a year.

“Eventually, it will generate several hundred thousand pounds annually for other services as well as cutting waiting times.

“The special commissioners spent a year carefully assessing and monitoring the performance of the robot before making this exciting decision.”

Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry said: “It is good news that this far-sighted investment can now treat more patients and more forms of cancer.”

Last week the Lancashire Telegraph revealed a new £1 million purpose-built kidney dialysis unit at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Burnley councillor Gary Frayling, who represents Bank Hall, said: “This is really good news.

“I am glad that more patients from across Lancashire and South Cumbria with prostate and other forms of cancer will be able to treated better and more quickly as a result of this decision will improving services at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospitals.”