Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck popped into Epsom General Hospital recently – and made a serious bit of business great fun.
He was in the Urology Department to present a “new toy”, a £10,975 TULA Laser Machine on behalf of Epsom Medical Equipment Fund (EMEF).
Surgeons love new toys and this one saves lives. The comic heard from Consultant, Deji Akiboye how this new treatment for bladder cancer helps treat cancers without the need for sedation or anaesthetic. Patients come in and have their condition treated, pain free and walk out of hospital in less than one hour. The tiny laser goes through a flexible telescope inserted into the bladder.
The consultant added: “We use this laser to fry abnormal areas in the bladder which are cancerous. Traditionally this involved a full anaesthetic and a stay in hospital, sometimes with a catheter.
“With this treatment, it means we can do away with all those things and treat people far more quickly, painlessly and let them get back to normal living faster. It is fast, efficient and effective – plus it’s also great fun to use for us surgeons who love new toys.”
Charlotte Druce, General Manager, Surgery & Endoscopy Surgery Directorate, Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust thanked EMEF organiser, Bess Harding for helping to make this particular dream come true.
Bess added: “With the support of the local community, we raised the money for the TULA which is an important part of the treatment”.
Donations are most welcome to Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, 32 Tealing Drive, Ewell, Surrey, KT19 0JS.
Easter Espinosa, Charlotte Druce, Bess Harding, Deji Akiboye
Easter Espinosa, Mahabub Hassan, Deji Akiboye, Jimmy Tarbuck, Clive Charig
