A Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has achieved a milestone by employing a new robotic waterjet technique to treat a record number of prostate patients in a single day. This innovative method, known as Aquablation therapy, is designed to assist men suffering from enlarged prostates, a condition medically termed benign prostatic hyperplasia.
On October 18, the trust successfully treated twelve men, setting a new record for prostate procedures performed in one day within the NHS in England. Remarkably, eleven of these patients were discharged just hours after their treatment, raising hopes that such advancements could help alleviate NHS waiting lists.
Enlarged prostate is a prevalent, non-cancerous condition that affects many older men, leading to urinary issues that can disrupt sleep and overall quality of life. Patients often face long delays for treatment, with some waiting months before receiving care. One of the patients treated on this record-breaking day was Nigel Howlett, a 68-year-old from Farnham, Surrey, who had endured symptoms for 18 months while on the waiting list. “I”ve lived with this for a long time, including a significant lack of sleep and then not drinking enough liquids to try and prevent the need to urinate,” Mr. Howlett shared. He expressed relief after the procedure, stating he felt “fine” and was hopeful for significant improvements in his symptoms.
Statistics reveal that one in three men over the age of 50 experience symptoms related to enlarged prostates, and this figure escalates to about 70 to 80 percent among men over 75. While many men with urinary symptoms do not require surgery, various initial treatments such as lifestyle modifications, medications, and urinary catheters are often recommended. If these approaches fail, surgical options, including the commonly performed transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), may be considered. Unlike TURP, which typically requires longer hospital stays, Aquablation therapy utilizes a heat-free, high-pressure waterjet combined with real-time imaging to remove excess prostate tissue, resulting in fewer side effects and allowing many patients to be treated as day cases.
The Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is the first NHS trust in England to implement robotic Aquablation therapy and has led trials to refine this technique. Over the past five years, the trust has conducted more than 500 Aquablation procedures, the highest in the NHS.
Consultant urological surgeon and clinical lead for urology at Frimley Health, Neil Barber, commented on the overwhelming demand for this treatment. “We usually perform a maximum of three Aquablation procedures in one half-day operating list per week. However, growing demand from both local patients and those referred from further afield is increasing the waiting list,” he explained. Barber emphasized the potential of this technology to significantly reduce waiting times, noting, “The greatest advantages of Aquablation therapy are its efficiency and predictability, which enable us to treat more patients and achieve better outcomes.” He concluded, “Thanks to the incredible hard work of our surgical team, the day was a huge success, demonstrating what we can achieve with the right support.”
