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Leicester’s Hospitals is revolutionising cancer care following the generous gift of a new Da Vinci Xi robot for robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), made possible by the £1.5 million donation from the Samworth Foundation to Leicester Hospitals Charity last year. The donation is helping the local NHS hospitals to provide cutting-edge, minimally invasive surgical options to patients across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, saving lives and improving patient care.
Robotic-assisted surgery is already available as an option for Urology and Gynaecology patients. And now, thanks to the Samworth Foundation, this groundbreaking technology has become available for head and neck cancer patients. The Da Vinci Xi Robot’s advanced capabilities empower surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater accuracy and efficiency, resulting in reduced post-operation complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times for patients. It also helps significantly improve patient outcomes by reducing the need for chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.
Dr. Oladejo Olaleye, Consultant and Lead Head and Neck Surgeon at Leicester’s Hospitals (pictured below on the left) expressed profound gratitude for the support: “The Samworth Foundation’s donation is a significant contribution that ensures a minimally invasive robotic surgery option is provided for patients with cancers in our community, similar to surrounding counties in the Midlands.
“With the new Da Vinci Xi Robot, we are now offering patients in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland a state-of-the-art surgical option for early throat cancers that minimises trauma and improves quality of life outcomes when compared to chemoradiation.”
Diagnosed with early-stage throat cancer in December last year, Paul underwent a six-hour robotic-assisted surgery just before the new year to remove cancer from his tonsil, as well as a standard operation for the removal of cancer from his neck.
Thanks to the fantastic teamwork of the skilled head and neck team (surgeons, anaesthetists, radiologists, pathologists, theatre staff) and the brand new Da Vinci Xi Robot, the precise removal of the cancerous tissue meant that Paul did not need any chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment. With the support of nursing and allied health care, Paul recovered well and was discharged from the Kinmonth Ward within a week. He will now continue standard follow-up appointments with regular clinic reviews for five years provided to all patients treated for cancers.
Paul said: “If I didn’t have the option for surgery using the robot, I would have been going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for six weeks attending daily on weekdays and this would have extended my recovery time.”
In February, Paul was able to return to work on a phased return, he said, “As I slowly ease back into work and daily activities, I’m grateful for the teams at Leicester’s Hospitals who saved my life and restored my hope. I’m also grateful for the donation for the robot which made this possible.”
Richard Mitchell, CEO of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “This generous donation will undoubtedly save lives and accelerate the improvement of cancer care for people across the region. We are grateful to the Samworth Foundation for their support in helping us fulfil our ambition to be leading in healthcare and trusted by communities.”
The Da Vinci Xi robot enables surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater ease and efficiency. Dr Olaleye, who has led the establishment of the pioneering robotic head and neck cancer surgery program at Leicester’s Hospitals, emphasised the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork in maximising the benefits of this technology.
“Our head and neck cancer team is committed to delivering the highest standard of care to our patients,” said Dr Olaleye. “The Da Vinci Xi robot allows us to navigate the delicate structures of the head and neck with unparalleled precision, minimising trauma and facilitating faster recovery. Patients with early throat cancers will mostly avoid the side effects of chemoradiation – such as difficulty swallowing, reduced saliva, difficulty breathing, tiredness, skin changes, hearing loss and extra procedures like feeding tubes and dental extractions.”
Sunita Patel, Head of Charity at Leicester Hospitals Charity, added, “Thank you to The Samworth Foundation’s donation which represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare in our community. Through their generosity and all of the Charity’s supporters, we can continue to advance surgical innovation and improve patient outcomes for years to come.”
