Music icon Jools Holland has helped a hospital mark its one-year anniversary of adopting a “life saving” surgical robot.

The pianist and presenter spoke to patients whose lives have been changed by the droid during a special event at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham.

Known as Hugo, the tool helps perform minimally invasive surgery (MIS) on those suffering from kidney and prostate cancer, as well as those in need of a hysterectomy.

Attending the celebration in his role as Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, Jools reflected on his own prostate cancer diagnosis in 2014 which he has since made a full recovery from.

He has since been working with a charity to help raise awareness of the symptoms of the disease so it can be caught early.

In a speech, the musician said: “Unfortunately, by the time some are diagnosed it’s too late to do anything.

“It’s all very well diagnosing people but if there isn’t something there to help them it can make it very difficult for them to get the treatment they need.

“But one of the things that has made me very optimistic is Hugo, as this new technology means you can treat more people more efficiently which is fantastic.

“Technology is absolutely wonderful and it’s speeding everything up and the future is looking great. Hugo really is great news. It’s a life-saver.”

The robot works by performing minimally invasive treatment by using small incisions rather than open surgery.

Jools spoke to patients who have experienced the work of Hugo first-hand.

Sue Evans, 45, from Rainham, was the first patient to undergo a full hysterectomy using the droid and said she was sent home the following evening after her operation.

She said: “The only pain relief I took was right after the operation and the next day, and the only discomfort I had was caused by the gas to inflate my stomach for surgery and some stomach cramps a few days afterwards.

“Eleven days after the op I was ironing, carrying out normal housework duties, doing the school runs and my usual long walks.”

Ken Mellows from Gillingham, was the first patient to undergo a colorectal procedure after he was diagnosed with colon cancer.

The 79-year-old said: “After my surgery I was on the high dependency unit for the first night, then on a ward for a couple of days before being allowed home.

“Ten-months on and everything is still going well and that is all thanks to my surgeon, the theatre team and of course Hugo.”

Robot-assisted surgery was first introduced to the hospital in 2017 when it adopted its first droid, Da Vinci.

As of last week, Hugo has been used to carry out procedures on more than 140 patients.

Philip Bensted, 70, is one them after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer.

The Broadstairs resident said: “My daughter got in touch with an old school friend of hers who is a cancer research scientist for a private pharmaceutical company.

“It turned out she had actually had a play with a friend of Hugo.

“She said, and I quote, ‘after 20 exhausting minutes, I managed to pick up a grape’ which tells you a lot about the degree of skill required to operate Hugo.

“The small puncture wounds healed quickly and five weeks after the operation I was back on the golf course.

“It is thanks to Hugo and the skill and knowledge of all the staff involved that I am now recovering.”