A MARATHON operation has been hailed as a success after THREE kidney cancer patients went under the knife in one day.

Normally, most surgeons would only carry out one major operation in a day but consultant urologist Mr Ramachandran Ravi’s work means each patient will be have been operated on and treated in time to go home for Christmas.

Each of the patients were operated on within ten days of diagnosis.

The operations took place at Basildon Hospital - which is due to merge with Mid Essex and Southend hospital trusts to form a single NHS organisation - and involved removing cancerous growths in each patient’s kidneys.

The surgical team 

The procedures started at 9am with the final one finishing at 5.30 pm.

Mr Ravi praised the benefits of three teams beginning to work together, saying: “What we have achieved for these patients clearly demonstrates the next level of excellence that can be delivered when we work together across our three hospitals.

“Clinical leadership, advanced planning and multi-disciplinary team working were all crucial components in the success of these operations.”

One of the patients, Anthony Steele, from Canvey Island, was devastated after his diagnosis and considered opting for private care to speed up his treatment.

The 34-year-old said: “If I had paid for private care I couldn’t have had a better service or been treated with such care and kindness.

Patient - Anthony Steele with the nurses who oversaw his care and Mr Ramachandran Ravi

“The NHS is an amazing thing.”

Another of the patients, Norma Collins, from Wickford, added: “People must know about the brilliant team here.

“Everyone has been so kind and caring. It’s good to know that I will be home for Christmas.”

The procedures involved a vascular surgeon, a thoracic surgeon and a urologist, all working together alongside a nursing team and anaesthetists.

Treated - Norma Collins with Mr Ramachandran Ravi

Consultant urologist, Martin Nuttall, from Mid Essex Hospital NHS Trust, said: “These operations have shown that by collaborating and sharing our expertise we are able to use our resources much more effectively and provide patients with a much more efficient service.”

He added: “It’s great that these three patients are home in time to enjoy Christmas with their families.”

The operations took place on Monday, December 3.