Hospital news
Left: Royal Marsden surgeons use the da Vinci Xi robot in theatre. The dual console enables trainee involvement in operations. Below left: Don McCarthy (second from left) with daughter Hannah, Royal Marsden Chairman R. Ian Molson, and son John
Don, whose wife Diane passed away in 2007 after treatment at The Royal Marsden for bowel cancer, said of his donation: “The Royal Marsden provided an excellent standard of care when Diane was ill and it is still really important to me to feel that I am giving something back. It was fantastic to see at first-hand how our donation has gone towards some really exciting technology that will hugely benefit patients. “Donating to such a great cause is a fantastic way of ensuring the legacy of my late wife lives on and helps others
It is really exciting that with this new da Vinci Xi robot we can move into new tumour types PROFESSOR MARTIN GORE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, THE ROYAL MARSDEN
in some way. My family and I are all committed to The Royal Marsden – it is important that the next generation realises the benefits charitable giving can bring to those less fortunate than ourselves.” The Robotic Fellowship The da Vinci Xi robot will be supported by a newly launched Robotic Fellowship, the first of its kind in the UK, which will train up to 30 specialist surgeons in robotic surgery. The da Vinci Xi’s dual console facilitates this exclusive training and will allow trainee involvement on actual operations from day one, with complete patient safety. The Robotic Fellowship and the state-of-the-art equipment will enable The Royal Marsden to train multidisciplinary robotic
surgeon teams for the future, operating in multiple tumour types. This will result in more efficient procedures for the patient and ensure that we remain the leading multi-speciality surgical robotic centre in the UK. A robot’s-eye view The da Vinci S robot was first used in the UK to treat prostate cancer patients at The Royal Marsden in 2007 and has since been rolled out to more than 20 trusts. Over the past seven years, it has been used to treat more than 1,000 patients. The da Vinci Xi’s extended vision, higher magnification and imagery give the surgeon greater precision in their work by providing a magnified, three-dimensional view inside a patient’s body. The surgeon also controls the robot’s computerised arms, which can grip scissors and other instruments, providing greater accuracy when performing operations. Also, it is often necessary for different areas of the abdomen to be accessed to remove cancers completely. The da Vinci Xi has an advantage over previous versions of the robot in that it can move around the body easily, minimising operating time for the benefit of the patient. Professor Martin Gore, Medical Director, said: “The Royal Marsden continues to be one of the largest providers of robotic surgical procedures for prostate cancer in the UK, and it is really exciting that with this new da Vinci Xi robot we have the opportunity to move into new tumour types. It really is thanks to our generous donors, such as the McCarthy family, that we can continue to be at the forefront of cancer treatment, surgery and research.”
Chief Pharmacist Jatinder Harchowal
The Royal Marsden teams up with Boots UK to offer new pharmacy options for patients The Royal Marsden is delighted to announce that we will soon be offering our patients an enhanced prescription service through a partnership with Boots. The opening of two new pharmacies run by Boots UK for outpatients and discharge drugs will mean reduced waiting times and more flexibility for patients. From July, patients will also be able to access certain medicines from a local Boots pharmacy if they wish, therefore reducing the need to wait or travel. The move is part of a wider project looking at ways to both enhance the experience for patients and manage an increasing workload. The current hospital pharmacy will continue
to manage research inpatient and warddistributed drugs. The announcement comes as The Royal Marsden also welcomes its new Chief Pharmacist, Jatinder Harchowal, who said: “Whether patients are coming in for chemotherapy or to talk to their consultant, we know that a highquality medicines management service can make a big difference. “I’m excited to monitor how the first few months of the service will work. I am confident waiting times will continue to improve, and that we will get very positive feedback from our patients and staff on the quality of these new outpatient and inpatient medicines optimisation services.” RM MAGAZINE 05