A £1.5 million robot has been purchased by Medway NHS Trust which has already performed 40 operations for the urology department.

The da Vinci Xi robot is the first of its kind to be installed in the south east outside of London.

This version of the robot is one of only 10 installed across the country and has been used by the hospital since July by Professor Matin Sheriff the consultant urological surgeon.

It performs surgery that is less invasive and will be used for surgeries carried out in the abdomen and pelvic areas.

The robot offers vision, dexterity and precision at a greater level than a human surgeon.

Retired bricklayer Barry Tulett had was operated on by the robot, under the driecton of Professor Sheriff, five weeks ago to remove cancer from his prostate.

He was in and out of hospital within 36 hours and has had no pain since the surgery.

The 69-year old grandfather told the Medway Messenger: “I’ve had teeth out that hurt more than this.

“It’s amazing to see how far surgery has come and when they offered it to me, I thought why not?

“I have spoken to people who had the operation several years ago and had to have open surgery.

“I went in at around 1pm and came around a few hours later. I’ve had a hernia operation before and this was a lot better, easier and it didn’t hurt at all.”

Surgeons who use the robot undergo two months of extensive training and are monitored by a mentor in their first few operations.

Professor Matin Sheriff has been working with the hospital to get this innovative surgery to the hospital on Windmill Road.

He told the Messenger: “Money is tight in the NHS but without investment we can not improve surgeries and it this will prove cost effective.

“It’s pivotal in our journey. Medway has gone through difficult times in the last few years. This is recognition that we are on a path towards offering high quality patient care.

“It has the ability to carry out complicated procedures with greater precision and finer control.

“It also helps to improve patient journeys and hospital stay so patients can get so patients can get discharged earlier and allowed back home.”

The official launch was held at the hospital today where Sir Robert Worcester, the found of MORI and a former non-executive director of the trust cut a ribbon using the robotic hands.

Two more surgeons will be trained by December with more expected in the future.