A 69-year-old man from the Lincolnshire village of Ancaster has become the first patient in the county to have robotic assisted surgery.
An investment of more than £3.2 million by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust brought the technology to the county to offer more choice for urology and colorectal cancer patients as they undergo their treatment.
Ken Watson underwent a robotic radical prostatectomy on Monday, February 14 as part of his treatment for prostate cancer at Lincoln County Hospital.
The procedure was carried out by Consultant Urologist Aris Alevizopoulos. He was sat at a special console connected to a robot which is designed to mimic the surgeon’s hand movements, enabling them to perform incredibly delicate procedures through the smallest of incisions.
Speaking the morning after his surgery, Ken said: “It’s fantastic to have everything here in Lincolnshire. I could have gone to Leicester to have my procedure but it’s been even better to come to Lincoln.
“All of the staff here have been absolutely brilliant from the very start. Everything that I have needed, all of my appointments and everything, have all been done here in Lincolnshire. I have not had to travel out of the county, which has been so much better for my wife and I.
“It has really reduced the amount of stress and worry, knowing that we are going to our local hospitals and yet still having state-of-the-art surgery and the best care. I am a little bit sore, but everything has gone really well and I am so grateful.”
Ken first went to his GP in September 2021 with symptoms including lower abdominal pain and backache. He had blood tests and a scan, followed shortly by a biopsy, before being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Consultant Urologist Aris Alevizopoulos (left) with Ken Watson (right) before the surgery. | Photo: ULHT
Consultant Urologist Aris Alevizopoulos is the lead clinician for Lincolnshire’s new robotic surgery system.
Up until now, Mr Alevizopoulos has been performing robot-assisted procedures for cancer patients in Leicester General Hospital, as part of the East Mercia Urology Alliance with ULHT and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
The new robotic surgery system will also be used for clinical teaching and learning opportunities in the future.
Mr Alevizopoulos said: “It is a privilege to care for Mr Watson and to undertake the first surgery of this kind in Lincolnshire. We offer him our best wishes as he continues his treatment and recovery.
“Having this system in the county will make a real difference to patients like Mr Watson as it has a number of benefits.
“The robotic assisted procedure is less invasive, which comes with a reduced risk of surgical complications, meaning those having surgery will be expected to go home earlier and have a faster recovery.
“There has previously been no such system in Lincolnshire and our patients were travelling out of the county for their procedures. We can now offer people all of their care much closer to home and reduce the time they are waiting for their procedures.”
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Proposed outdoor dinning spaces in Sleaford’s market square will help to rejuvenate and reinvent the town centre, council officers have said.
They have recommended two restaurants’ outdoor seating areas are given permission to help boost trade within the town.
The Burger Lounge and The Solo Bar & Restaurant have requested permission to expand their seating into the town’s Market Place.
The space is currently used as an ad hoc car park, but there are hopes the dining areas will take greater advantage of the square.
The spaces will be located outside of the restaurants, each measuring 9m by 3m, and will ensure there is enough room for the market to continue.
North Kesteven District Council has pointed to the success of the nearby Sessions House’s outdoor space, saying it has helped to “revitalise this part of the Market Place”.
It says: “Outdoor seating at some cafés and the staging of the ‘Welcome Back Fund’ event post-pandemic has shown what can be achieved, and that this attractive space has far more to offer residents and visitors than simply car parking or the ‘legacy’ market, which has struggled to remain viable as shopping habits have changed.”
Both restaurants expect to take on another two part-time staff as a result, and will operate the areas 9am to 11pm subject a licence.
However, not everyone is happy about the application.
Burton & Co solicitors, which occupies the space between the restaurants, has complained that the application will restrict customers’ access and have a detrimental impact on their business.
However, council officers say it is unlikely to be affected, and the business will benefit from greater passing trade.
A report into the application concludes: “The proposals are considered to be an important element of rejuvenating and reinventing Sleaford’s town centre to allow multi-purpose visits to support its vitality and viability in a manner that will not only support expansion of the businesses directly affected but will more generally support trade within the town.”
The planning committee will decide on it at their next meeting on Tuesday, June 7.
The winners have been announced for the inaugural Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards 2022 organised by Stonebow Media, publishers of The Lincolnite, in partnership with the University of Lincoln Research & Enterprise.
Almost 300 people gathered at the Engine Shed in Lincoln on May 26 to celebrate business achievements and find out who won in the 11 categories.
The evening was hosted by Lincoln actor Colin McFarlane, with delicious food from city caterer Salted Orange.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The 2022 winners and finalists are
SME of the Year
— Sponsored by University of Lincoln Research & Enterprise
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
ADHD 360 Limited – WINNER
Hanworth Country Park
Pallinc
TFM Countrystore
UK Alternative Energy
Family Business of the Year
— Sponsored by Wright Vigar
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Streets Heaver Healthcare Computing – WINNER
Daisy Made Farm
Fox (Owmby) Limited
R H Smith & Sons Wigmakers T/A Smiffys
RW Stokes Tea and Coffee
Exporter/International Business of the Year
— Sponsored by Duncan & Toplis
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
R H Smith & Sons Wigmakers T/A Smiffys – WINNER
Legless Limited
Liz Drury Voiceovers
Makan Bites
Specialist Heat Exchangers
Business Innovation/Innovator of the Year
— Sponsored by Productivity Programme
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Blossom and Best – WINNER
BeamOut Studios
Firmative Media
Live Like Loyalty
Seraph Technologies Limited
Agri-Food Business of the Year
— Sponsored by Stonebow Media
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Jones Food Company – WINNER
JRH Water Management
Seaweed Culture
Charitable Business of the Year
— Sponsored by Ringrose Law
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
MENTalk Lincs CIC – WINNER
Headway Lincolnshire
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
LIVES
Sophie’s Journey
Environmental / Sustainable Business of the Year
— Sponsored by Lincoln Minster School
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Seaweed Culture – WINNER
Evolve Flowers
JRH Water Management
Systematic Print Management
UK Alternative Energy
Rising Star of the Year
— Sponsored by University of Lincoln Research & Enterprise
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Jonathan Brewer, Tradeglaze (Lincoln) – WINNER
Cheryl Ellron, Makan Bites
Hannah Lockwood-Geck, Fizzco
James Hopkins, DBS Digital
Tom Remington, The Strait and Narrow
Business Leader of the Year
— Sponsored by Lincoln Science & Innovation Park
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Phillip Anderton, ADHD 360
Julie Priestley, DBS Digital
Michael Jones, Hairdressing Supplies Lincoln
Sara Boland, Influence Landscape Planning and Design
Wendy Clarkson, Fizzco
Business of the Year
— Sponsored by Productivity Programme
Photo by Steve Smailes Photography www.stevesmailes.co.uk
Witham Group – WINNER
KryptoKloud
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park
RW Stokes Tea and Coffee
The Strait and Narrow
Andrew Stevenson Award
Luke Smith – Seaweed Culture – WINNER
This award has been created to honour Andrew Stevenson’s legacy after he sadly passed away in December 2020. During his time as Founding Director of Research & Enterprise at the University of Lincoln, Andrew developed and enabled an accessible infrastructure for Greater Lincolnshire Businesses, launching numerous platforms and initiatives. Hundreds of SMEs in the region have benefited from these programmes, raising innovation potential, and driving forward local economic growth.