19 May 2022

Revolutionary Robotic Surgery is one step closer to benefitting cancer patients in Bucks

Scannappeal, are pleased to share that following the launch of the Robot Appeal in October 2021, over half of the £1 million target has already been achieved.

The importance of the charity appeal has been emphasised this week following the publication of a clinical trial led by scientists at UCL and the University of Sheffield. The first trial of its kind found that robotic-assisted surgery to perform bladder cancer removal and reconstruction led to a shorter recovery times and significantly less time in hospital. Researchers say the findings provide the strongest evidence so far of the patient benefit of robot assisted surgery and are now urging the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to make it available as a clinical option across the UK for all major abdominal surgery including colorectal, gastro-intestinal, and gynaecological.

Lisa Trivett, Scannappeal Director, said: “Along with the kindness of the community, we have also been able to strengthen the fundraising by assigning legacy income to the Robot Appeal. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of individuals who have chosen to leave a gift in their will to Scannappeal. This means we have allocated a staggering £500,000 to the Robot Appeal on top of the £150,000 that has already been raised. However, we still need to raise a further £350,000 to ensure we can fund the surgical robot as quickly as possible and start changing the future for patients undergoing surgery in Bucks”.

The Robot Appeal aims to deliver the very latest innovation in robotic surgery for patients in Bucks and surrounding areas. It will see Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust benefit from a Da Vinci XI model, delivering the gold standard in robotic surgery. The surgical robot, to be based at Wycombe hospital, will initially be used for cancer treatment in the areas of colorectal, urological and gynaecological cancer, and for non-cancer treatment in these areas.

Mr Arnold Goede, Consultant Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeon at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust shared his delight at partnering with the charity: “We are privileged that Scannappeal is raising money to ensure Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust can offer world class robotic techniques to local patients. Not only does it mean patients can be treated closer to home, but operations will be less painful to recover from, more precise with in-built high-tech features making surgery safer, and even less invasive than laparoscopic surgery. This means patients will recovery more quickly with a smaller risk of serious complications and better long-term cancer outcomes”.

Robotic surgery is a form of keyhole surgery involving small incisions where a surgeon controls a computer enhanced robot to mimic the surgeons hand movements with absolute precision. The stable camera platform produces 3D high-definition views, and the surgical area is magnified x 10 producing crystal-clear views. Robotic surgery incisions are much smaller, reducing the risk of complications and infection, minimizing scarring, pain and discomfort, and helping patients recover and return home more quickly.

To find out how to support the appeal visit: here