£9,000 donated to trust for Da Vinci Robot

Since The News ran a front-page story on Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, which runs Queen Alexandra Hospital, needing to raise £780,000 in 22 months to pay for the Da Vinci Robot, donations have poured in.

Rocky Appeal co-ordinator Mick Lyons said £9,000 has been raised so far this month.

‘The article has brought in £9,000 for the appeal,’ he said.

‘Quite a few calls came in from the public wanting to know more about the robot and what it does.

‘We have received cheques for hundreds of pounds and it is really great to see. It’s fantastic.’

As previously reported, the trust launched an appeal earlier this month to bring in the remaining cash needed for the robot.

The machine is leased from American firm Intuitive Surgical and £1.6m has already been raised through the Rocky Appeal.

But the contract ends in 22 months and if the trust has not paid off the money, the firm could take it back.

The robot is used more than 500 times a year and operates on five areas of the body including upper gastrointestinal, urology, colorectal, gynaecology, and head and neck.

Using the robot for surgery means only two small incisions are made, surgery is more accurate and recovery time shortened.

Mike added: ‘We’ve a few events taking place to help boost donations and I’ve been giving talks telling people about the robot.

‘One of our dinner events has been so popular we have had to book a second evening.

‘It just shows how important the robot and the appeal is to the city and the public.’

To find out more and how to donate, call Mick on (023) 9228 6487 or email [email protected].