13/01/2025 | News, Press releases

‘I was the 2,000th patient to have robotic surgery’  

Belinda Perkins wasn’t aware when she had robotic surgery to remove bowel cancer she was the 2,000th patient at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) to be treated using the advanced technology.

Since the introduction of robotic surgery four years ago at the Trust, many patients having colorectal, urological and gynaecological surgery have had their operations with the surgeon-controlled Da Vinci robot.

Belinda, who is a clinical nurse specialist at ESNEFT, was offered radiotherapy and surgery to treat the cancer. She chose robotic surgery at Colchester Hospital after researching the options.

Woman sitting at a table smiling at the person next to her
Belinda Perkins

The 58-year-old, who works with patients experiencing chronic pain, said: “I was told robotic surgery was not as invasive and is at the forefront of treatments available. I felt lucky I had this option. Although I have nothing to compare it to, my wounds are healing well and I feel choosing the surgery has given me the best chance of recovery.”

It was a shock for Belinda to be diagnosed with bowel cancer. She had been experiencing changes in her bowel habits, diarrhoea and an urgency to go. She’d also had some blood.

Belinda’s capsule endoscopy

Belinda initially had a capsule endoscopy in September where a tiny camera is swallowed to perform the procedure, but didn’t expect to be told she had colorectal cancer following a colonoscopy in October.

Large machine
The Da Vinci robot

She added: “I didn’t think my symptoms were cancer. I assumed it was an inflammatory condition. I’m not overweight, I don’t smoke or drink, I exercise regularly and eat a relatively healthy diet that does not include red or processed meat.

“Although I’m a nurse myself I wasn’t keen on having a colonoscopy, but I really shouldn’t have been, as my experience at the diagnostic centre at Clacton – despite the outcome – was a positive one.

“I’d encourage anyone who has a change in their bowel habits not to dismiss it and to get checked. Nurses can be the worse for ignoring or dismissing symptoms.

“I really didn’t think I had cancer, but am pleased with the persuasion of my partner I went back to my GP who arranged further tests.”

The benefits of robotic surgery

Robotic surgery offers many patient benefits as it is less invasive and allows for greater precision, meaning improved healing and recovery. It can also mean a shorter stay in hospital for patients.

The robot is controlled by the surgeon sitting at a separate console, with the operating part of the robot connected to the patient through small keyholes. The robotic arms are under the full control of the surgeon throughout the operation.

Man in clinical scrubs standing by a piece of equipment
Subash Vasudevan at the Da Vinci console where the surgeon sits to control the robot

Subash Vasudevan is a general and colorectal surgeon at ESNEFT and chair of the robotic surgery steering group. He said: “We know that patients, like Belinda, have better outcomes through robotic surgery. It’s more precise and means it’s less invasive for patients so they heal quicker.

“It’s also much better for surgeons too as they’re able to sit separately at a console making it less stressful on their own body.

“We’re really pleased to have reached this huge milestone of treating 2,000 major complex procedures robotically in November 2024 across colorectal, urology and gynaecology.

“This milestone is a testament to the hard work of our clinical and wider teams.”

Who can have robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery is used to treat patients in the new elective orthopaedic centre that opened on the Colchester Hospital site in November.

ESNEFT has invested more than £10m on four Da Vinci robots used across Ipswich Hospital and Colchester Hospital, as well as robotic surgery used to treat orthopaedic patients needing partial or full knee replacements.

The investment has also benefited surgeons at ESNEFT and beyond, with training for robotic surgery available at the Iceni Centre, based at Colchester Hospital, for clinicians across the world.

Mr Vasudevan added: “We have trained more than 50 trainees across surgical specialities through our own unique and well-structured training programme at the Iceni Centre.

“We now have international recognition for our programme with surgeons visiting from the UK and Europe to see what good looks like. We aim to expand our robotic programme to new areas in the future to benefit more patients.”

Read some of our previous stories from patients who have had robotic surgery on the press release section of our website.

More information about bowel cancer and the symptoms is available on the NHS website.

Back to top