Sky News are at HRI today filming a pre-recorded news package about how hospitals can use technology to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

As part of the piece, we showcased a snapshot of various innovations to improve cancer performance implemented at the Trust, including our surgical robot, capsule sponge procedure, and the use of artificial intelligence in radiology.

Patient Jean Bellenger, pictured with Physician Associate, Claire McDonald, was at here this morning for a capsule sponge procedure*. She said: “To have this done is a lot easier and a lot less invasive than an endoscopy. The staff are lovely and put you at ease straight away.

“Now I’ve swallowed the sponge, I feel fine. You can’t really feel it - only the string. I’d say to anyone thinking about having it done for the first time, just have it done. Nothing to worry about. An endoscopy takes a good hour, plus an hour and a half before you go home. This is nothing compared to that”

It’s absolutely brilliant. It’s only going to take half an hour and then I can go back home. I’m going to have my breakfast and a cup of coffee after this!”

The piece will air nationally over the Christmas period (the exact date is yet to be determined) at regular intervals during a single 24-hour rolling news cycle. 

Watch this space for details of the broadcast.  

* The capsule sponge procedure is used in the treatment of Barrett’s Oesophagus - a disease of the gullet which can lead to oesophageal cancer. The Cytosponge is a new technology where patients swallow a sponge on a string, which is withdrawn to yield an accurate sample for investigation.