The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) successfully conducted two live-streamed robotic colorectal cancer operations at Northampton General Hospital on October 8 and October 9, 2026. These procedures were part of a two-day robotic surgical symposium aimed at educating medical professionals. Two local patients consented to have their operations anonymously streamed to the Cripps Education Centre at NGH.
The symposium brought together consultants, colorectal surgeons, and senior doctors from Northamptonshire, the wider UK, Norway, and Portugal. This marked the fourth such event organised by UHN, which runs both Kettering and Northampton general hospitals, to train its own medical teams and share state-of-the-art surgical procedures with external surgeons.
Mr Jamil Ahmed, UHN’s Deputy Director of Medical Education and lead for robotic colorectal surgery, highlighted the value of live-streaming. "It is a very powerful experience to watch robotic surgery in real time," he stated, noting that delegates could observe every step of the procedure and participate in discussions. He expressed gratitude to the patients for their consent and to all involved staff for their collaboration.
One patient, Adrian Sample, 62, from Northampton, underwent his robot-assisted surgery on October 9 and was discharged on October 12. He discovered his bowel cancer through a routine screening test and received prompt treatment, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, at NGH. Mr Sample expressed trust in the plan and was not concerned about the robotic approach.
The event involved approximately 80 surgeons and trainees, with about 15 from UHN. Mr Ahmed, also a senior lecturer at the University Hospitals of Leicester, confirmed that both operations to remove cancerous sections of the colon and rectum were successful. The symposium received positive feedback, reinforcing UHN's position as a leading centre for colorectal cancer and medical education.
