Ground-breaking robotic tech for prostate surgery installed at the Ulster Hospital
Ground-breaking robotic technology that 'greatly improves quality of life' for men suffering from prostate problems has been installed at the Ulster Hospital.
Aquablation Therapy eliminates the need for invasive prostate surgery and is the first treatment of its kind to be rolled out on the the island of Ireland.
Belfast man David Fleming has become one of the first patients to benefit from the new technology.
'I have had an enlarged prostate for the last 10 years and I have been suffering with urine retention that required a hospital admission where I also required a catheter to be fitted.
'When my consultant informed me of this new technology a few months ago during a telephone call, I was excited to give it a go.'
The precision technique involves using image-guided, high-velocity water jets to remove excess prostate tissue and is one of the most advanced and innovative treatments currently available for patient's experiencing urinary symptoms.
Living with an enlarged prostate can have a detrimental impact on day-to-day life and can cause a frequent need to pee and difficulty fully emptying their bladder.
If left untreated, it can lead to more severe symptoms such as acute urinary retention and infections.
"The benefits of Aquablation were explained to me and I thought it was a no brainer, basically because it is more accurate, there is less blood loss and a shorter period under anaesthetic as well with better outcomes,' Mr Fleming said.
'This will really make a difference and will greatly improve my quality of life, as I will now be able to remove the catheter which can be inconvenient. I was nervous undergoing the procedure, but the staff in the Day Procedure Unit in the Ulster Hospital have been fantastic at making me feel at ease. I would definitely recommend it.'
The South Eastern Trust has been chosen to enhance the Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO) service by using real-time ultrasound imaging to assist surgeons in mapping and directing the water jet with accuracy to avoid damage to nearby nerves and structures responsible for sexual function and continence.
Unlike traditional procedures, no heat is involved, significantly lowering the risk of complications.
The state-of-the-art technology reduces the likelihood of side effects such as erectile dysfunction, incontinence and bleeding that may require transfusion – it also offers shorter hospital stays and lower retreatment rates, improving overall outcomes for patients.
Consultant Urologist, Mr Ajay Pahuja, believes it is cause for optimism.
'We are excited to launch this remarkable robotic technology that offers significant benefits for our Urology patients," he said.
"Aquablation Therapy helps avoid invasive surgery and its associated risks, offering quicker recovery times and minimal discomfort. The robotic precision ensures targeted treatment, significantly reducing the chances of damaging surrounding tissues. Early outcomes have shown rapid and significant improvement in urinary symptoms.'
Clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Aquablation Therapy in providing substantial relief from symptoms and maintaining low rates of irreversible complications.
Patient-reported outcomes are equal to, or better than alternative procedures, with this treatment boasting 99.5% continence preservation rate, preserving 100% of erectile function and maintaining 89% of ejaculatory function.
South Eastern Trust Director of Surgery, Maggie Parks hopes to see similar results among male patients being treated at the Ulster Hospital which is commited to delivering world-class care.
"As a Centre of Excellence in the South Eastern Trust, we are proud to lead the way in Northern Ireland, giving patients from across the Region access to the latest technology and the highest standards of treatment,' she said.
Assistant Director of Surgery Katharine Dane added, 'Bringing the Aquablation service to Northern Ireland has been a collaborative project between our colleagues in SPPG (Performance, Safety and Service Improvement Department) and a variety of corporate and operational teams within the South Eastern Trust. We are all delighted to now see this service come to fruition and be able to make a significant difference to men's health across the Region. Being able to offer a full range of treatments for patients with bladder outlet problems is very exciting for all the teams involved.'
Delighted to be partnering with the South Eastern Trust, Procept BioRobotics Account Manager, Bobby Badesha said, 'We are excited to be working closely with the Trust to bring Aquablation Therapy to patients in Northern Ireland.
'This partnership highlights our commitment to expanding access to innovative, minimally invasive treatments for prostate patients improving outcomes and their quality of life.'
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Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Ground-breaking robotic tech for prostate surgery installed at the Ulster Hospital
Ground-breaking robotic technology that 'greatly improves quality of life' for men suffering from prostate problems has been installed at the Ulster Hospital. Aquablation Therapy eliminates the need for invasive prostate surgery and is the first treatment of its kind to be rolled out on the the island of Ireland. Belfast man David Fleming has become one of the first patients to benefit from the new technology. 'I have had an enlarged prostate for the last 10 years and I have been suffering with urine retention that required a hospital admission where I also required a catheter to be fitted. 'When my consultant informed me of this new technology a few months ago during a telephone call, I was excited to give it a go.' The precision technique involves using image-guided, high-velocity water jets to remove excess prostate tissue and is one of the most advanced and innovative treatments currently available for patient's experiencing urinary symptoms. Living with an enlarged prostate can have a detrimental impact on day-to-day life and can cause a frequent need to pee and difficulty fully emptying their bladder. If left untreated, it can lead to more severe symptoms such as acute urinary retention and infections. "The benefits of Aquablation were explained to me and I thought it was a no brainer, basically because it is more accurate, there is less blood loss and a shorter period under anaesthetic as well with better outcomes,' Mr Fleming said. 'This will really make a difference and will greatly improve my quality of life, as I will now be able to remove the catheter which can be inconvenient. I was nervous undergoing the procedure, but the staff in the Day Procedure Unit in the Ulster Hospital have been fantastic at making me feel at ease. I would definitely recommend it.' The South Eastern Trust has been chosen to enhance the Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO) service by using real-time ultrasound imaging to assist surgeons in mapping and directing the water jet with accuracy to avoid damage to nearby nerves and structures responsible for sexual function and continence. Unlike traditional procedures, no heat is involved, significantly lowering the risk of complications. The state-of-the-art technology reduces the likelihood of side effects such as erectile dysfunction, incontinence and bleeding that may require transfusion – it also offers shorter hospital stays and lower retreatment rates, improving overall outcomes for patients. Consultant Urologist, Mr Ajay Pahuja, believes it is cause for optimism. 'We are excited to launch this remarkable robotic technology that offers significant benefits for our Urology patients," he said. "Aquablation Therapy helps avoid invasive surgery and its associated risks, offering quicker recovery times and minimal discomfort. The robotic precision ensures targeted treatment, significantly reducing the chances of damaging surrounding tissues. Early outcomes have shown rapid and significant improvement in urinary symptoms.' Clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Aquablation Therapy in providing substantial relief from symptoms and maintaining low rates of irreversible complications. Patient-reported outcomes are equal to, or better than alternative procedures, with this treatment boasting 99.5% continence preservation rate, preserving 100% of erectile function and maintaining 89% of ejaculatory function. South Eastern Trust Director of Surgery, Maggie Parks hopes to see similar results among male patients being treated at the Ulster Hospital which is commited to delivering world-class care. "As a Centre of Excellence in the South Eastern Trust, we are proud to lead the way in Northern Ireland, giving patients from across the Region access to the latest technology and the highest standards of treatment,' she said. Assistant Director of Surgery Katharine Dane added, 'Bringing the Aquablation service to Northern Ireland has been a collaborative project between our colleagues in SPPG (Performance, Safety and Service Improvement Department) and a variety of corporate and operational teams within the South Eastern Trust. We are all delighted to now see this service come to fruition and be able to make a significant difference to men's health across the Region. Being able to offer a full range of treatments for patients with bladder outlet problems is very exciting for all the teams involved.' Delighted to be partnering with the South Eastern Trust, Procept BioRobotics Account Manager, Bobby Badesha said, 'We are excited to be working closely with the Trust to bring Aquablation Therapy to patients in Northern Ireland. 'This partnership highlights our commitment to expanding access to innovative, minimally invasive treatments for prostate patients improving outcomes and their quality of life.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Enlarged prostate: Robotic technology treatment brings hope
Difficulty peeing, a frequent need to go to the toilet and trouble emptying their bladder - those are just some of the problems living with an enlarged prostate can bring ask David Fleming, from east Belfast, who has been living with one for a number of years and was one of about 1,000 men on a waiting list for bladder outlet left untreated, an enlarged prostate can lead to more severe symptoms such as acute urinary retention and infections - which is why getting that waiting list down is so a new treatment - or more specifically, a new robotic technology - is offering hope that those men can be treated sooner rather than later. Mr Fleming himself was delighted to be one of the first to undergo aquablation therapy at the Ulster treatment, the first of its kind across the island of Ireland, is a minimally-invasive procedure that uses a heat-free waterjet to remove excess prostate tissue, which Mr Fleming said will make a big difference to his life. The 64-year-old's condition, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), worsened early this year and his difficulties peeing led to a catheter being fitted. But this new treatment will "sort the prostate out so that the flow will be good in the future".Mr Fleming said his condition was being managed by medication until December but then it "took on a life of its own"."I would have been waking every hour at night, every hour and a half, so I really wasn't getting much sleep and was really quite tired," he the procedure should solve the issue, ensure the catheter is removed and give him "a good quality of life in relation to what I've had previously". Mr Fleming hopes, come his 65th birthday in September, he will be "a new man". How does aquablation therapy work? While there are several benign prostate treatments available, this treatment particularly helps men experiencing urinary problems due to an enlarged now, men with a very enlarged prostate had to travel to England for treatment or have more complex or invasive surgery in Northern this robotic technology eliminates the need for invasive prostate uses image-guided, high-velocity water jets to precisely remove excess prostate ultrasound imaging helps the surgeon map and direct the water jet with accuracy, avoiding damage to nearby nerves and structures responsible for sexual function and traditional procedures, no heat is involved, significantly lowering the risk of South Eastern Health Trust said this technology reduces the likelihood of side effects such as erectile dysfunction, incontinence and bleeding that may require also offers a shorter recovery time, shorter hospital stays and lower retreatment rates, improving outcomes for patients. What could the new treatment do for NI waiting lists? Ajay Pahuja, consultant urologist at the South Eastern Health Trust, described it as "an exciting new transformative technology" with many benefits for men who have difficulty passing urine."It's quite precise, it's safe and quite quick," he said. "Secondly, we'll be able to probably get patients back to work - an early return to their normal jobs."The complication rates are quite low if you're precise."Mr Pahuja said it also preserves sexual function, which is one of the big things this technology TURP is considered the gold standard care for treating benign prostate (BPH), surgeons say aquablation therapy complements the existing technologies they have and will hopefully help tackle the long waiting Pahuja said the urology waiting list, like other specialities, had a legacy of problems and that those with age-related benign prostate enlargement were waiting "as long as five to seven years" for treatment, with many having to go to said aquablation therapy could mean more efficient and effective treatment, coupled with the South Eastern Health Trust being declared as a regional BPH centre, should help shorten the waiting lists. The trust's assistant director of surgery, Katharine Dane, said all men across Northern Ireland will benefit from this new said aquablation therapy was "a real coup" for the trust. "It just completes the suite of treatment," she on a waiting list in other trusts will be transferred to the Ulster Hospital to be offered this service, if that is what is decided is appropriate for their prostate.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- BBC News
Mural renews town's love of 'hero' Alexander Fleming
Darvel in East Ayrshire is one of those towns that can feel a little left behind by the collapse of the heart of lace manufacturing in the Irvine Valley, its last factory shut in there's an increasingly resurgent and vibrant community spirit brought about by the resurrection of the story of perhaps its greatest the traditional cottages and smattering of shops on the main street, a giant, technicolour mural of Sir Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered penicillin, now looks out over the town. Unveiled last month, the mural was commissioned by a regeneration charity over a sense that Fleming had been under-recognised in his home for too feels personal to Tom McSkimming, a retired builder who met Fleming while still a toddler."He used to come up to our house in the mid-1940s," Mr McSkimming recalled."He'd phone up my mum from London when coming up to his holiday house just up the road and my mum would put on his fire for him."He once clapped me on the head and said 'this wee boy doesn't know how lucky he is compared to the wee boys in London'." The microbiologist famously remarked "that's funny" upon noticing an errant mould was killing staphylococci bacteria in a culture plate in observation eventually led to development of the world's first true antibiotic and has saved countless World Health Organisation said it was "near-impossible to pinpoint" how many lives have been saved as a result of the is used to treat illnesses ranging from septicaemia to pneumonia to and the wider family of beta-lactam antibiotics, continue to be the most widely-used antibiotics in the world. The mural, designed by Glasgow-based artist Rogue One, is not the first tribute to Fleming in was born at Lochfield Farm in August 1881, about four miles (6.4km), from the town's centre where the mural is found on a gable is namechecked on the town's welcome sign; a bust from 1960 sits in a bare memorial garden, and there is some memorabilia from his life on display at the town the outskirts of the town, Phil Scott knows exactly how devoted Fleming's fan base can be. He now owns Lochfield and meets the occasional visitor who makes the pilgrimage to his Scott, 73, from Essex, looks after a memorial stone from the 1950s at the farm and a makeshift collection of memorabilia in his attic."It's a cliché but Fleming gets under your skin," he said."The amount of people that come from Scotland and come from abroad and stories they come out with of how penicillin in different ways has saved their lives, it never ceases to astound you."One young teacher came from Spain and Fleming was her idol. The name of the school where she taught was Alexander Fleming School, the name of the square where she lived was Fleming Square, they had a bust like we do in Darvel and then she turned around and she said 'we have a public holiday to him, what do you have?" Frank Donnelly, 88, recalled receiving a Sir Alexander Fleming medal from its namesake as a third year secondary pupil at Darvel School in 1952."He had been a boyhood hero of mine and my twin brother's," Mr Donnelly said."His story reads like a film script. He was born a very humble man. He was seventh of a family of eight which meant that the farm was never going to come his way but he became world famous."Despite his achievements including the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (alongside Howard Florey and Ernst Chain) and a litany of foreign accolades like the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic, Mr Donnelly said the bacteriologist seemed "very unassuming.""We were so inspired with Fleming that we sent him a Christmas card, my brother and I, and this shows how humble a man he was. He actually took the time, and it was a busy life he was living, to reply to us," he said. 'Fleming festival' Colin Allan from the Darvel Area Regeneration Team (DART) said the artwork was a way of showing Darvel was a town reclaiming a lost identity."Darvel was run down for many years," he said."The mural is just adding to sense of being on the way back up."We're also planning a festival to celebrate the centenary of the discovery of Penicillin in 2028."Another local charity also has ambitions to renovate the existing Fleming Memorial Garden in Darvel's Hastings Square."That's a lot of money so apart from grants we'll need to go out to crowd-funding but because of the international dimension of Fleming," Mr Allan said."Fingers crossed we'll get it."
