University Hospitals Coventry & 江南体育 - News Feed 2025-05-22T10:46:45+01:00 University Hospitals Coventry & 江南体育 /feeds/news-feed/ Physiotherapists launch Pilates sessions for patients recovering from breast cancer surgery /news/physiotherapists-launch-pilates-sessions-for-patients-recovering-from-breast-cancer-surgery/ 2025-05-22T10:46:45+01:00

Breast cancer surgery patients at University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 (UHCW) NHS Trust are set to benefit from rehabilitative Pilates sessions pioneered by the Trust鈥檚 physiotherapists.聽聽

Funded by the West Midlands Cancer Alliance and led by Lucy MacDonald, Lead Physiotherapist for Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, the sessions, comprising of a one-off education class followed by a six-week timetable of Pilates, are hosted in the Laurel Unit at the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby.聽聽

Lucy said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to be able to offer this service to patients and empower them with the tools to return to normal function after surgery. Exercise can be important in preventing recurrence of cancer and helping patients to tolerate treatment.聽

鈥淯nlike regular Pilates sessions that you can access through a gym, our sessions are set up with breast cancer patients in mind. All patients are assessed before coming into class, so we get to know them well and are aware of any issues or concerns they may have.鈥澛�

The education class is open to women immediately following surgery, providing them with the information they need to pace their return to normal life. The class also looks at more technical details, including scar management.聽

Pilates classes are open to patients from six to eight weeks after surgery and focus on rehabilitation. In these sessions attendees learn to understand their body again and slowly step up their activity levels.聽聽

The project鈥檚 funding also covers pre-screening with patients who are more likely to develop shoulder stiffness after surgery.聽

Carol had her surgery just over 18 months ago and attended a pilot Pilates session with two other patients to feedback on how they found the activity and whether this would be useful for future patients.聽

鈥淚t鈥檚 lovely to be in a group of people where you鈥檝e all been through the same thing,鈥� said Carol.聽

鈥淭he session was really enjoyable, and I can see how the project will help future patients in their recovery.聽

鈥淗ad this been available when I had my surgery I definitely would have taken part.鈥澛�

鈥楶rehab鈥� sessions are also offered to patients who are due to undergo surgery, encouraging them to stay fit and well ahead of their surgery date.聽

The thinking behind the classes came from the PROSPER trial, which found that a structured exercise programme reduced pain and improved movement and quality of life outcomes in women following breast cancer surgery.聽聽

Currently, funding has been allocated for the sessions to run for 18 months, with a period of evaluation to follow.

State-of-the-art research laboratory that can help work towards new treatments opens at University Hospital /news/state-of-the-art-research-laboratory-that-can-help-work-towards-new-treatments-opens-at-university-hospital/ 2025-05-20T16:28:27+01:00

A state-of-the-art centre has been opened that could help clinicians advance personalised medicine by understanding complex biological systems.

The Multi-Omics Research Laboratory at University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 (UHCW) NHS Trust could also support the development of new diagnostic tests.

Based at University Hospital, Coventry, and hosted by the Research and Development Institute of Precision Diagnostics and Translational Medicine, a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) infrastructure grant of more than 拢1million helped to fund the facility. This was awarded to Professor Dimitris Grammatopoulos, a Professor of Molecular Medicine and Consultant Clinical Scientist at UHCW.

Researchers will be able to gain a greater understanding of conditions such as diabetes, pre-eclampsia or cancer and, from this, work towards identifying new treatments.

Lead Scientist Emma Braybrook said: 鈥淭his is a fantastic new facility and emphasises that research is a leading priority for the Trust.

鈥淚t will allow researchers from across the UK access to some of the most advanced technology in the field and the information that we generate for them could help generate significant findings.鈥�

Multi-omics research combines data from different "omics" fields, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of biological systems.

By integrating this diverse data, researchers can identify complex relationships and pathways that wouldn't be apparent from studying individual omics data alone.

About 75 guests from around the country attended a launch event sponsored by Olink Proteomics and Bruker Spatial Biology and were welcomed to the Trust by Chief Executive Officer, Professor Andy Hardy.

They were able to hear from experts in the field on how they have used the technologies within their research and how these latest advancements can shape the future of healthcare.

The facility is working in collaboration with the Trust鈥檚 Arden Tissue Bank (ATB) which provides access to a diverse range of high-quality human tissue, whilst complying with legislation and regulation, for ethically approved projects.

Recent expansion means that samples and data can now be provided from patients supported by UHCW NHS Trust, in addition to George Elliot NHS Trust and South 江南体育 University NHS Foundation Trust.

鈥淭his relationship means that researchers can not only access the technology within the facility, but also ethical approval and samples in one seamless process,鈥� added Emma. 鈥淭his is a unique offering and one that we hope will really support researchers.

Trust opens new unit offering swifter treatment for patients with severe intestinal failure /news/trust-opens-new-unit-offering-swifter-treatment-for-patients-with-severe-intestinal-failure/ 2025-05-16T10:13:13+01:00

Patients with severe intestinal failure (SIF) will benefit from swifter treatment following the opening of a new specialist ambulatory unit by University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 (UHCW) NHS Trust.

The unit at University Hospital, Coventry, is the first of its kind at the Trust. It is staffed by a group of dedicated Gastroenterology ACPs (Advanced Clinical Practitioners) who can undertake assessment and treatment of patients with input from the wider nutrition team,聽including Consultant Gastroenterologists, Dietitians, and Nutrition Nurses.

The provision of the unit on Ward 32 (Gastroenterology) enables direct access for prompt specialised assessment and treatment of patients with intestinal failure and complex gastrointestinal illness, with a view to avoiding the need for patients to attend the Emergency Department and hopefully avoid unnecessary admission to hospital.

The new service has been described as a 鈥渂rilliant advancement鈥� by 75-year-old patient Mrs Sylvia Wyer who officially opened the new unit with Jonathan Young, Chief Medical Officer at UHCW NHS Trust.

Sylvia has been receiving treatment under the nutrition team at the hospital for the past 20 years due to a diagnosis of intestinal failure. This requires her to receive intravenous nutrition (total parenteral nutrition 鈥� TPN) via an indwelling central venous catheter to maintain her nutrition and hydration and prevent malnutrition.

TPN patients have complex needs and can become ill very quickly with sepsis, nausea and high temperatures or they may have other issues, for example, with their central line. Previously, if they had a problem, they would have to come to the Emergency Department at University Hospital and then be admitted to a ward.

鈥淗aving this new unit is going to be so much better and easier for people with TPN,鈥� said Sylvia. 鈥淚f I have an issue, I can ring the team and they can bring me to the unit, so it鈥檚 a better service for people with parenteral nutrition. It鈥檚 a great advancement for the patients and they will benefit from it 鈥� it鈥檚 brilliant.鈥�

Sylvia has seen SIF services at UHCW NHS Trust develop over the past two decades. In the past, patients had to travel to specialist centres at Salford or St Mark鈥檚 Hospital in London for treatment until Chuka Nwokolo, Professor of Gastroenterology, introduced a nutrition service in the 1990s. Sylvia was the first TPN patient from Coventry to be discharged from University Hospital in 2005.

In 2010, the Trust recognised the need for the service to develop further and Dr Nicola Burch, Consultant Gastroenterologist, was appointed to take the service to the next level. Her work enabled UHCW NHS Trust to become accredited as one of two regional severe intestinal treatment centres in the West Midlands, serving a population of 3.4 million people.

Dr Dana Ismail, Lead for Clinical Nutrition and Intestinal Failure, said the opening of the new SIF unit capped years of work to continuously develop and improve the service to meet the complex needs of patients with intestinal failure.

鈥淭his unit will deliver excellent service for patients with swift assessment and management by expert staff to bypass the front door and avoid unnecessary admissions,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about treating the right patient in the right place at the right time.鈥�

Caption:

Sylvia Wyer (left) cuts the ribbon at the opening of the new Severe Intestinal Failure (SIF) ambulatory unit at University Hospital, with Dr Dana Ismail, Lead for Clinical Nutrition and Intestinal Failure (centre) and Jonathan Young, Chief Medical Officer at UHCW NHS Trust聽聽

New academic-health partnership for Coventry and 江南体育 aims to tackle health inequalities /news/new-academic-health-partnership-for-coventry-and-warwickshire-aims-to-tackle-health-inequalities/ 2025-05-15T12:51:14+01:00

The Arden Health Partnership has officially been launched between local NHS organisations and universities to improve health outcomes and tackle health inequalities across the region and beyond.

UK health systems are facing rising health inequalities, a huge increase in demand for mental health services and the challenge of integrating digital health solutions and personalised medicine with stretched resources. Through the collaborative action of private-public-academic partnerships, such as the newly announced Arden Health Partnership, public health improvements can be realised.

The members of the Arden Health Partnership have a shared mission, to measurably improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce health inequalities across Coventry and 江南体育. It will bring together:

  • The University of Warwick and Coventry University
  • The NHS Coventry and 江南体育 Integrated Care Board (CW ICB)
  • Three local NHS Trusts: University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 NHS Trust (UHCW); South 江南体育 University NHS Foundation Trust and George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust - The Foundation Group
  • Coventry and 江南体育 Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT)
  • Health Innovation West Midlands (HIWM)

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor of the host institution, The University of Warwick said: 鈥淭he Arden Health Partnership will create a positive change for the health and wellbeing of people in our local area.

鈥淎s we mark our 60th anniversary this year, we are reaffirming our commitment to making a better world through our world-leading research and education.

鈥淭his new partnership enables us to leverage our expertise, research capabilities and skills, alongside our NHS and academic partners to deliver real impact for our communities.鈥�

Efficient working practices between the academic, NHS, local government, third sector and industry partners will also allow the Arden Health Partnership to pool their expertise and work on locally impactful projects as well as secure funding for the region to meet the wider needs of patients and service users.

Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University and Group CEO said: 鈥淲e know that one organisation cannot solve challenges like tackling health inequalities and improving health and wellbeing outcomes in our area on their own, so this collaboration is a commitment to working together to address regional health challenges.

鈥淎t Coventry University we are innovators and don鈥檛 just want to create better futures for our students and colleagues, but also for the people of Coventry and our whole region. That is why this collaboration is important as we hope our academics, and students, many of whom are on track to become the next generation of healthcare professionals, will get the opportunity to make a real-world impact by working with other academics, entrepreneurs and healthcare professionals on projects that will positively impact our city and beyond.鈥�

Key priorities for the Arden Health Partnership include:

  • Tackling entrenched health inequalities through shared data and innovative outreach
  • Building new partnerships across sectors to improve care and drive economic resilience
  • Empowering the healthcare workforce through training, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration
  • Developing integrated, preventative care models that work for patients and communities
  • Advancing precision population health through the strategic use of health and care data
  • Enabling cutting-edge innovation through utilising the advantages of Arden Cross, which will house a new HealthTech Campus

Phil Johns, Chief Executive of NHS Coventry and 江南体育 Integrated Care Board, said: "The Arden Health Partnership marks a new and ambitious step for Coventry and 江南体育.

鈥淏y bringing together health, care, and academic partners in a way that connects research, education, and innovation directly with frontline practice, we are building stronger foundations to tackle the challenges facing our health systems including health inequalities and prevention and harnessing the opportunities of using digital technologies to support people to live healthier lives.

鈥淭his new partnership complements our existing Integrated Care System by creating stronger links between academic discovery and the delivery of high-quality health and care services."

This partnership marks a new era for the system鈥檚 health and care ecosystem 鈥� one defined by collaboration, co-production with communities, and a relentless focus on delivering high-quality, integrated, and preventative care that meets the evolving needs of our population.

Tim Jones, Chief Officer, Health Innovation West Midlands said: "The Arden Health Partnership represents the kind of bold, joined-up thinking we need to tackle the complex health challenges facing our communities.

鈥淏y bringing together world-class academic expertise, frontline NHS insight, and system-wide collaboration, this partnership has the potential to drive real, measurable improvements in health outcomes and reduce inequalities across Coventry and 江南体育. We鈥檙e proud to be part of this bold collaboration.鈥�

Results from UHCW-led trial empowers women to choose how to deliver big babies /news/results-from-uhcw-led-trial-empowers-women-to-choose-how-to-deliver-big-babies/ 2025-05-06T18:05:42+01:00

Published in , findings from The Big Baby Trial led by University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 (UHCW) NHS Trust, The University of Warwick and the Perinatal Institute, provides crucial new information to help women choose how to safely deliver babies suspected to be large for their age.

At birth, large babies are at risk of shoulder dystocia, a complication where the baby becomes stuck as a shoulder is caught under the mother鈥檚 pelvic bone. Contrary to previous evidence, this trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and sponsored by UHCW, showed that delivery by a week to 10 days earlier reduced this risk. It also reduced the need for emergency caesarean section and does not increase the risk of tearing for the mother.

Led by Professor of Obstetrics Siobhan Quenby MBE of the Directorate of Biomedical Sciences (Warwick Medical School), The University of Warwick and Honorary Consultant at UHCW and Professor Jason Gardosi MBE from the Perinatal Institute, Birmingham, the Big Baby Trial is the largest trial to date, including twice as many pregnancies as all previous studies taken together. Between June 2018 and October 2022, 2,893 women in 106 hospitals across Great Britain consented to be randomly allocated to induction of labour or standard care.

Professor Quenby said: 鈥樷橧 am delighted that this trial has provided data that empowers women to choose how and when they want to deliver their baby.鈥�

Standard screening for big babies in the UK is an important part of antenatal care, alongside surveillance for small babies to check for restricted growth. Large babies are defined as those who weigh more than 90 per cent of other babies the same age, which increases their risk of complications including fractures, nerve damage or brain injury. However, this research found that these complications were rare and attributed this to an overall high level of training in managing deliveries of big babies.

Eve Morgan, a participant in the Big Baby Trial, said: 鈥淓veryone was surprised when I was diagnosed with diabetes during pregnancy. Because diabetes and big babies are linked, I thought it was a good idea to join the study and get extra monitoring throughout my pregnancy, although I wanted a natural birth.

鈥淎s I got closer to my due date, the monitoring predicted that Magnus would reach 9lbs at full term. I 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 want to be induced with hormones, but I was happy to try the 鈥榮tretch and sweep鈥� method as this can trigger labour and you can stick to your birth plan. The second attempt seemed to get the baby moving and I ended up giving birth to Magnus in a water bath!鈥澛� 聽

The study provides evidence for clinical management options that increases choices for women with large babies, to choose a birth plan that can include:聽

  • Waiting for labour to start naturally without worrying about increasing risk to babies if delivery occurs on a labour ward with highly trained staff;
  • Choosing a planned Caesarean section, or
  • Induction at 38 weeks to reduce the risk of the baby鈥檚 shoulder being caught, without having to worry that this increases the risk of emergency Caesarean section or mother鈥檚 tearing during delivery.

Nadine Montgomery, whose birth was complicated with shoulder dystocia 25 years ago and resulted in her son requiring ongoing care, said: 鈥淚 am ever so pleased that we now have, for the first time, pivotal evidence to allow women to make free and valid choices about how to give birth to bigger babies. This will undoubtedly lead to safer outcomes for mothers and babies. Incredible work - well done to everyone involved!鈥�

Professor Gardosi added: 鈥淭hanks to the many women who agreed to participate in the trial, we have been able to research the evidence that will help women with big babies to make informed choices.鈥�

Katie Morris, NIHR National Clinical Specialty Lead for Reproductive Health and Childbirth, explains: 鈥淟arge babies can present complications at birth which injure both mother and baby. The findings of this world-leading trial offer crucial evidence that will help improve the chances of a safe birth and help expectant mums and medical staff make the most informed choices.鈥�

The full paper is published in .

Landmark figure passed as more than 100,000 sign up to reap benefits of Trust's patient portal /news/landmark-figure-passed-as-more-than-100-000-sign-up-to-reap-benefits-of-trusts-patient-portal/ 2025-05-01T15:05:19+01:00

Since launching in December last year, University Hospital Coventry and 江南体育 (UHCW) NHS Trust鈥檚 patient portal has been helping users access their health information on their phones, computers and tablets and take advantage of a host of features.

This includes perks such as being able to view clinical letters, scheduled appointments and selected blood test results, all of which can save time calling into the Trust鈥檚 administrative teams.

After being live for less than six months, the portal already has more than 100,000 patients registered for the free service.

When patients are scheduled a new outpatient appointment, the Trust will send a text message鈥痠nviting them to join the patient portal. All they need to do is click on the secure link and follow the instructions as prompted.

Further functionality, including the ability to cancel, reschedule or request appointments for select services, will be added later this year.

Natasha Chare, Chief Digital and Data Officer at UHCW NHS Trust, said: 鈥淥ur patient portal has a wide variety of features which make it easier to use our services.

鈥淥nline access to key clinical information, including selected test results and appointment details, will save time and put control of patients鈥� healthcare in their hands, meaning they don鈥檛 have to wait for a letter to arrive in the post.

鈥淩eaching this milestone shows the appetite across Coventry and 江南体育 to view health information online and we will continue to add new functionality to ensure the patient portal goes from strength to strength.鈥�

Further information on the patient portal 鈥� myhealth Coventry and 江南体育 鈥� can be found here.

"I will carry on for as long as I can" - Ann Corbett celebrates 50 years of service /news/i-will-carry-on-for-as-long-as-i-can-ann-corbett-celebrates-50-years-of-service/ 2025-04-17T10:33:39+01:00

Half a century of outstanding service was recognised in a celebration for Macmillan Palliative Care Nurse Ann Corbett.

Ann recently passed 50 years working for University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 (UHCW) NHS Trust and its predecessor.

鈥淎 friend of mine did nursing and told me what a great career it was and that鈥檚 why I decided to do it,鈥� said Ann, who still works two days a week.

鈥淚t鈥檚 changed so much over the years, I liked the hats that we used to have to wear! But I鈥檝e never regretted it, not for a single day.鈥�

Ann completed her Enrolled Nurse Training between 1975 and 1977 before starting on the Oncology unit. In 1990, she transitioned to Gynaecology to work night shifts so she could care for her children.

She returned to Oncology in 2000 as an 'E' Grade Staff Nurse after completing her Enrolled Nurse Conversion course and in 2007 joined the Palliative Care Team, where she played a significant role in the implementation of the Supportive Care Pathway.

Ann has led the National Transformation of End-of-Life Care Programme, introducing the Trust to AMBER Care, RAPID discharges and iPlan.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ann demonstrated immense compassion by supporting end-of-life care, ensuring dignity for patients and enabling family connection in challenging circumstances.

鈥淚 have worked with some lovely people over the years that have made a difference to my nursing,鈥� added Ann.

鈥淜nowing you are doing a good job is really important to me; when people tell you how grateful they are for what you鈥檝e done it makes the world of difference. I absolutely love what I do and will carry on for as long as I can.鈥�

Trust board members paid Ann a visit to thank her for her service and make a special presentation.

Chief People Officer Donna Griffiths said: 鈥淚t was a special moment to join Ann in marking this amazing achievement.

鈥淲e are very proud of our compassionate and dedicated workforce and there is no greater example of the wonderful care they provide than Ann.鈥�

Outside of work, Ann is a champion dog breeder and has travelled the world to judge at shows. Alongside her late daughter, Sarah, she was a winner with Luna, an English Springer Spaniel, at Crufts in 2023.

She also beat off thousands of competitors this year to pick up the Top Exhibitor prize at The Pawscars, an annual awards raising funds for both canine and children's charities.

Temporary traffic lights to be trialled at University Hospital Coventry /news/temporary-traffic-lights-to-be-trialled-at-university-hospital-coventry/ 2025-04-17T14:02:18+01:00

As part of our continued efforts to improve access to University Hospital Coventry for patients, visitors and staff, a new traffic flow trial will be taking place from Monday 28th April to Friday 9th May.

This two-week trial is designed to ease congestion during peak weekday hours, specifically between 3:30pm and 6:30pm (excluding the bank holiday on Monday 5th May). The changes are based on recent feedback from site users.

What鈥檚 changing?

  • Temporary four-way traffic lights will be installed at the second roundabout upon entering the site.
  • Additional temporary lights will be positioned at the junction next to Busy Bees Nursery.
  • Pedestrian controls will be in place at nearby zebra crossings to balance safety and vehicle movement.

A specialist traffic management team will be on site throughout the trial to monitor the system, adjust signal timings where needed and ensure smooth and safe operation.

Emergency vehicles will always be given priority and the system can be adjusted or removed if any significant issues arise.

If successful, the trial could inform longer-term traffic solutions across the hospital site.

Trust leads clinical trial of pioneering product to tackle threatened miscarriage /news/trust-leads-clinical-trial-of-pioneering-product-to-tackle-threatened-miscarriage/ 2025-04-08T09:07:08+01:00

Experts from University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 (UHCW) NHS Trust are to lead a clinical trial of a novel device aimed at addressing threatened miscarriage.

More than 150,000 women a year in the UK could be helped by Callavid庐 which is designed to deliver vital doses of progesterone.

If approved, the product could become the world鈥檚 first drug-device combination product to treat threatened miscarriage.

Callavid庐 has been developed by scientists and biomedical engineers from who have secured 拢1 million in Invention for Innovation (i4i) funding from the for its first clinical trial later this year.

The clinical feasibility study will be led by consultant Professor Siobhan Quenby MBE - one of the world鈥檚 leading authorities on miscarriage and preterm birth - and the team in the Trial Management Unit at UHCW NHS Trust.

Professor Quenby, who specialises in obstetrics and reproductive health at UHCW NHS Trust, said: 鈥淣ew methods to reduce additional psychological anxiety are badly needed in this field. Through this innovation, one which is being pioneered right here in the UK, I believe there is potential to transform women鈥檚 experience.鈥�

Callavid庐 works by improving the delivery of progesterone medication. Administering doses of vaginal micronised progesterone is the guideline for women who have suffered at least one miscarriage and subsequently face 鈥渢hreatened miscarriage鈥�, the clinical term for when there is bleeding during early pregnancy. It鈥檚 estimated that over 150,000 women in the UK could be eligible for prescriptions of progesterone for threatened miscarriage each year.

Progesterone is currently self-administered by patients via vaginal pessaries. This delivery method results in leakage, which can cause significant anxiety and inconvenience for patients at an already distressing time.

To avoid leakage of the prescribed medication before it has been absorbed into the body, many women lie down for an extended period after inserting each pessary. According to health economists, the avoidable cost to the economy and the NHS from the use of leaky progesterone pessaries for miscarriage prevention and IVF across England and Wales is 拢236 million per year.

Dr Lara Zibners, Co-founder and Chair of Calla Lily Clinical Care, said: 鈥淭he NIHR funding will enable us to test our technology via a full feasibility study this autumn, bringing us one step closer to making this product available to help women at one of the most distressing moments of their lives.鈥�

If approved, Callavid庐 would become the first drug-device combination product in the UK to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of threatened miscarriage.

Hundreds more cancer patients to benefit from new robot /news/hundreds-more-cancer-patients-to-benefit-from-new-robot/ 2025-04-07T11:49:00+01:00

Surgeons at University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 (UHCW) NHS Trust have taken delivery of a 拢2 million robotic surgery system which they will use to perform life-saving operations on hundreds more cancer patients every year.

The Da Vinci Xi robot - one of the most modern and advanced of its kind - has been funded by University Hospitals Coventry and 江南体育 Charity with money raised by supporters and through legacy donations. It is the largest single donation made by the Charity to the Trust.

This is the third robot bought using charitable funds and will boost the number of robotic procedures carried out at University Hospital, Coventry by more than 440 to around 1,300 a year.

Compared with conventional operations, robotic surgery is significantly less invasive and more precise. Patients benefit from less post-operative pain, lower blood loss, shorter stays in hospital and better outcomes, recovering at home in just a few days to weeks.

Patient Joe Argue,聽who has undergone two successful robotic surgeries at University Hospital, describes the technique as 鈥済ame changing鈥�.

His fundraising has raised more than 拢1 million, with 拢70,000 donated to UHCW Charity towards robotic equipment and other medical causes from his Birmingham Irish Cycle Appeal (BICA) team through sponsored bike rides across the world.

鈥淚 cannot speak highly enough of robotic surgery,鈥� said Joe. 鈥淛ust five weeks after being diagnosed, I had the operation and when I was up on the ward in recovery, I asked the nurse if I had actually had anything done because there were no aches or pains at all. It was remarkable.

鈥淚t was just as straightforward for the second operation and the recovery time was so short - three months later I was back on my bike. The two rides we have done since to help raise funds have both been more than 500 miles and I have completed them both (on a manual bike) - so that is a testimony to how good the recovery can be. I am now out on my bike three times a week training for this year鈥檚 cycle.

鈥淩obotic surgery is a game-changer,鈥� added Joe. 鈥淚 am delighted UHCW Charity have paid for a new robot and pleased we have been able to help to make that happen.鈥�

Jo O鈥橲ullivan, Director of UHCW Charity, said: 鈥淭he fact UHCW Charity has made its largest-ever donation - almost 拢2 million - shows just how vital this equipment is and the far-reaching benefits it will bring.

鈥淲e thank every one of our donors for making such a positive impact for our patients. Without them, none of this would be possible."

The arrival of the new robot was announced today as more than 300 leading surgeons and health professionals from 26 countries gathered at University Hospital for the UK Robotic HPB聽Conference聽where they are discussing the latest developments and research in liver, pancreas and biliary surgery.

Over the past 12 years, surgeons at the Trust have carried out almost 5,000 robotic surgical procedures on patients with a range of cancers including prostate, kidney, bladder, colon and rectum, gynaecology; head and neck, HPB (pancreas, liver, bile duct and duodenum); thoracic (heart and lung) and upper gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus and stomach).

UHCW Charity has also funded a second robotic console which will enable surgeons to train junior doctors with a hands-on approach.

Jawad Ahmad, Consultant Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic (HPB) Surgeon at UHCW NHS Trust, who is chairing the UK Robotic HPB Conference, says that was well as being minimally invasive, robotic surgery patients also benefit from earlier access to post-operative treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy, minimal scarring and fewer interoperative and post-operative complications.

鈥淪ince we started robotic surgery in 2013, we have become a multi-disciplinary centre of excellence,鈥� said Mr Ahmad. 鈥淭housands of cancer patients have benefitted from successful surgery. UHCW boasts the largest number of senior robotic trainers in a single centre, having trained hundreds of surgeons from the UK and Europe in robotic surgery.

鈥淲e are very pleased to have this third robot available to expand the types of surgery we can offer to our patients, as well as improving training opportunities for more junior doctor staff.鈥�

Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of UHCW NHS Trust, said: 鈥淩obotic surgery is one of the top priorities for the Trust and the addition of a third system underlines our position as one of the leading centres in the UK and Europe for robotic surgery and training.

鈥淲e are very grateful to UHCW Charity and all those who have raised funds to buy our third robotic surgical system.鈥�