Rocky Appeal theatre sees first patients
A new operating theatre paid for by generous donations to the Rocky Appeal charity fund has welcomed its first patient,
Gunilla Beavis, 60, had digital keyhole surgery at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, to remove a cancerous tumour on her oesophagus. The operation, which would normally take between eight to nine hours, took only four hours.
The advanced surgery means she will experience less pain, be able to recover quicker and be left with smaller scars.
Speaking before her op, Mrs Beavis, from Bognor Regis, said: 'I'm really happy to be here in the new theatres.
'I'm hopeful the operation will work.
'The fast recovery time with keyhole surgery is really important to me.'
Surgeons and fundraisers were celebrating the opening of the two new theatres, which they say will revolutionise the way operations can be carried out in Portsmouth.
The theatres cost 1m and were funded entirely by The Rocky Appeal, the fundraising drive now on a mission to raise 2m to fund four more theatres at QA.
Mick Lyons, the appeal coordinator, said: 'This is a big day for the hospital as these theatres will be a lasting legacy for future generations.
'Now two of the theatres have opened and we've seen them in action, it's spurred us on to try and raise the rest.'
Surgeons will be able to carry out up to 5,000 operations per year in each theatre, on patients with conditions ranging from bowel cancer to gall stones.
Surgeon Dr Simon Toh, who has backed The Rocky Appeal from the start, helped during Mrs Beavis's surgery.
After the op, he said: 'This is the biggest operation we do in the hospital.
'But with the key-hole surgery it went very well and Mrs Beavis will recover much quicker.
'It's fantastic to have these two new theatres open. They will change the way we operate on things like cancer forever.'
If you would like to make a donation to The Rocky Appeal call (023) 9228 6487 or email audrey.buckner@porthosp.nhs.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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