A Norfolk cancer patient has become the first in the country to overgo a robotic bowel surgery and go home on the same day.
Andrew Rice, 56, spent less than 24 hours in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital when he underwent his treatment.
The UK-first procedure made use of two of the hospital's most cutting-edge services to reduce the patient's time at the site.
It is one of many ways in which the NHS is trying to cut the time that people spend in hospital beds, to free up space for others.
READ MORE: Meet the robot surgeons helping treat patients at the NNUH
Mr Rice, of Coltishall, had a section of his bowel removed in a surgery carried out by the NNUH's robotics team, on November 1.
The hospital's virtual ward then made sure he could start his recovery from the comfort of his own home later that day.
Mr Rice said: "It has been brilliant. I cannot fault the service.
"Being looked after by the virtual ward is definitely better than being in hospital. They rang me several times a day and the armband monitored me at home 24/7.
"I feel fine and my scars have healed well. I only had to take paracetamol after the surgery and did not need stronger painkillers.
"I'm now waiting to find out the next steps with further treatment and chemotherapy."
Mr Rice's illness was detected after he attended a routine bowel cancer screening. This was followed up with a colonoscopy in October which confirmed his diagnosis.
It comes five years after the NNUH became the first hospital in the United Kingdom to perform bowel cancer surgery using robotics.
Ahmed EL Hadi, consultant colorectal surgeon at NNUH, said: “We are excited to have established a robotic colorectal day-case programme, which is a massive accomplishment combining two excellent innovations – robotic surgery and the virtual ward.
“This may not be suitable for all patients, but the minimally-invasive surgery and use of remote monitoring by our clinicians means that we can safely discharge patients earlier after colorectal surgery and reduce the length of their stay in hospital.
"They get better sleep at home, home-cooked food and have their family and pets around them to aid their recovery.”
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