Hospital breaks NHS record to tackle backlog

One Surrey man hoped the procedure would improve his quality of life

A hospital has said it performed a record number of pioneering procedures in one day in a bid to help curb its backlog.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust said it used aquablation therapy – a robot-assisted waterjet technique – to treat 12 men with enlarged prostates at Frimley Park Hospital in Camberley. All of whom were able to go home hours later.

The number of procedures was a record for NHS England, the trust said.

Enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a common non-cancerous condition in older men.

It can lead to problems with urinating, which can disrupt sleep and daily life, according to the NHS.

Nigel Howlett, from Farnham, received the treatment on the record-breaking day

Nigel Howlett, from Farnham, Surrey, received the treatment on the record-breaking day on October 18.

The 68-year-old had been suffering from an enlarged prostate and was on the treatment waiting list for 18 months.

"It might not be one of the most crucial procedures for the NHS, but it has greatly affected my quality of life," he said.

"I've lived with this for a long time."

One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, including needing to visit the toilet more frequently, with more urgency and having difficulty emptying their bladder, the NHS said.

This total rises to about 70%-80% in men over the age of 75.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust was the first NHS trust in England to introduce the aquablation therapy procedure and led the initial trials to help develop the technique.

The trust said it had carried out the highest number of NHS aquablation therapy procedures in the country – with more than 500 patients being treated in the last five years.