Today marks the reopening of our Day Surgery Unit, which has been used by our fantastic Robotics Team during Covid-19. As they head off back to work in Theatres we are celebrating them as our Team of the Week.
At the start of the pandemic, the Robotics Team moved our newly purchased da Vinci robots down to Day Surgery so they could create a ‘cancer hub’. This meant they could perform Covid-free robotic surgeries for our gynaecological and urological cancer patients in a space that was separate from the main hospital.
In partnership with Nuffield Health, where our patients have been swabbed, admitted and given a space to recover, the team have manned the Day Surgery Unit, clearing their backlog by performing 160 robotic operations since mid-April.
The benefits of these robots are huge. Not only do they cause less trauma when operating, but patients recover quicker and are less at risk of any complications. Today the robots have returned to Theatres, where they will continue to provide life-saving operations.
Recently, Professor Langley, Clinical Director of Urology and Professional Director of Cancer Services, praised the team for seamlessly migrating the robot to its new home. He said: “The willingness of staff to embrace new technology and practices to provide world class outcomes for our patients is phenomenal.
“Over the past few months, we have completed 160 robotic operations.
“I doubt that there is another hospital in Europe, let alone the UK, that were able to undertake that level of complex robotic surgery during such a challenging time.
“It is a truly remarkable achievement. Not only has this gone a long way in reducing our backlog of operations and in helping our cancer recovery plan, but was ultimately most appreciated by our patients who were anxiously waiting for their surgery during the peak of Covid-19.”
The team consists of around four scrub nurses, three operating department practitioners, two anaesthetists and two surgeons per Theatre. The dynamics and morale within the team are always high, with every member of the team being committed to deliver a service beyond expectations, despite the strains caused by Covid-19.
Dr Bill Fawcett, Consultant Anaesthetist, said: “I totally commend this team for being among the most efficient in the hospital. Since we started it has been like clockwork; everything is on hand and ready and everyone knows what they are doing.”
