Chris Steele, resident doctor on TV's This Morning, visited The Christie, in Manchester, last Friday (2nd December) to see the cancer centre's brand new £6 million surgical theatres.

The new development adds two new surgical theatres at The Christie and boasts some of the most advanced equipment in Europe.  The Christie currently undertakes around 4,000 highly specialist operations a year and the new theatres will enable many more patients to be treated, with the use of robotic and minimal access (key hole) surgical techniques.

With a focus on minimally invasive techniques, the new technology includes integrated high definition cameras and viewing monitors, and equipment that enable the digital capture and reporting of clinical data.

Dr Steele visited the new theatres to learn a bit more about surgery at The Christie and the benefits the new development will bring to cancer patients.

Dr Steele said: "This is space-age medicine, it's awesome. Medically, the beauty of these new facilities for the patient is that the procedures are shorter, far-less complicated and they are out of the hospital quicker."

Thirty-one-year-old Christie patient David Pemberton - who was treated at the new theatres for a rare, one-in-a-million cancer in the appendix - was also present during the visit. David's cancer - called pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) - was removed by a 10-hour keyhole operation in November. The Christie is one of two only two hospitals in the UK to treat people with this kind of cancer.

David, who lives in Wythenshawe, Manchester, said: "Although it was daunting to learn that I had this extremely rare cancer, I was relieved to hear that my treatment was to take place at such a reputable place like The Christie. I know that the equipment at these new theatres is world class so I felt in the very best of hands."

"It was amazing how quickly I recovered from the procedure - I was back home in six days and at work within a fortnight."

Christie supporter Barrie Bernstein was also recently treated at the new theatres. Barrie, 73, who has supported The Christie charity for nearly two decades, had surgery to remove a bowel tumour following a 12-month course of chemotherapy. He said: "The Christie is as good as it gets for cancer treatment not only in the country but the world. The theatres are massively impressive and I was up and running five days after my surgery."   

Miss Sarah O'Dwyer, lead clinician and project director for the theatre development, said: "These new facilities offer a real opportunity for patients to have increased access to the latest technology and expertise in minimally invasive and complex cancer surgery."

Notes to editor

Treatment for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) consists of removal of tumour cells that line the surfaces and organs of the abdomen and pelvis. Once the cells have been removed the team administers heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) directly into the abdomen whilst the patient remains under general anaesthetic.

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