Plans to perform state-of-the-art robot assisted surgery at the Alexandra Hospital will move a step closer next month when work to install the robot begins.
Back in March, it was finally announced by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Hospital that a surgical robot would be installed at the Alex as part of their plans to make the hospital a surgical centre of excellence.
As part of the Rory the Robot Appeal, led by Ian Jukes, local residents and businesses raised around £500,000 in aid of robotic surgery at the Alex. The Trust itself is investing £3.6 million to get this new service up and running.
Ever since she was first elected, Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch, has been campaigning to make the dream of state-of-the-art robot assisted surgery at the Alex a reality.
She has met with the Acute Trust and Ian Jukes from the Rory the Robot Appeal a number of times to ensure this new service is provided at Redditch’s hospital.
It has now been confirmed to Rachel that the main work to install the robot at the Alex will start at the beginning of July.
The Trust then hopes the first patients will be benefiting from robot assisted surgery by the end of this year.
Rachel said:
“The dream of state-of-the-art robot assisted surgery at the Alex is finally becoming reality.
“By the end of the year, the first procedure to be offered by the new service will be robot-assisted prostate surgery for men with prostate cancer. This will be a game-changer for prostate cancer patients by providing better outcomes, less pain, shorter stays in hospital and quicker recovery times.
“This latest investment is yet another clear sign of the bright future ahead for the Alex. Our hospital is seeing the investment it needs and deserves. A brand new breast imaging unit has opened, the Garden Suite is being returned and we’re going to get a multi-million pound brand new operating theatre complex.
“It’s clear that the Alex isn’t going anywhere, and I will not stop fighting for more investment and the return of a maternity and children’s service.”
