More patients undergoing bladder tumour surgery at St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight are now able to return home the same day, following the expansion of day-case Transurethral Resection of a Bladder Tumour procedures.
Transurethral Resection of a Bladder Tumour, known as TURBT, is a minimally invasive procedure in which a telescope-like instrument is passed through the urethra to remove bladder tumours. As well as being an effective treatment, it also helps clinicians determine whether a tumour is cancerous and assess its grade and stage.
Since moving TURBT procedures to day surgery in 2022, waiting times have reduced considerably and the number of day-case procedures has increased by more than 70%. The Isle of Wight NHS Trust says this has been achieved by streamlining the patient pathway and improving efficiency at every stage.
A nurse-led cystoscopy clinic has also been introduced, allowing patients to have their bladder examined using a thin, flexible camera called a cystoscope. This is helping people receive quicker bladder cancer diagnoses. In addition, the time taken to triage MRI scans for prostate concerns has reduced from 10 days to just 2 days.
Changes behind the scenes have included speeding up pre-surgery checks and improving coordination between clinical teams, helping patients move through the system more quickly.
Mr Lokman, Associate Specialist and Clinical Lead for Urology, has said:
“By carefully reviewing our theatre data, looking at how long procedures take and the time needed between patients, we’ve been able to reduce downtime, improve scheduling, and increase capacity so we can treat more people each week. These changes are making a real difference to patients. Only a few years ago, many would have stayed in hospital overnight after this surgery. Now, most can return home the same day, which patients consistently tell us they prefer.”
Theatre teams at St Mary’s Hospital have also been upskilled to support more urology surgery and cover additional lists. Staff are now trained to administer the chemotherapy drug given immediately after some procedures, a role previously carried out only by Cancer Nurse Specialists. This has enabled specialist nurses to focus on other areas of the cancer pathway.
Wootton resident Geoff Winch, 80, was first diagnosed with a bladder tumour in 2021 and previously required overnight hospital stays for treatment. In July 2025 and again in August 2025, he underwent treatment through the day-case service and has praised the impact on his recovery.
Geoff has said:
“Being able to go home the same day after the procedure made such a difference. I felt more relaxed recovering in my own familiar space and believe it helped my physical recovery as well as my emotional wellbeing. It made the whole experience feel far less daunting and more manageable.”
He continues to receive treatment, including BCG therapy and future TURBT procedures to check for re-growth and abnormalities.
Geoff added:
“I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the urology staff at St Mary’s Hospital. I am especially grateful to Mr Lokman, whose exceptional skill and kindness has supported me through the past few years. I would also like to thank his secretary, Isobel Irwin, who has always responded quickly and helped coordinate everything between my appointments.
“Additionally, the staff in the chemotherapy suite has been outstanding. The clinical nurse specialist, Katie Twine, eased my worries and the nurse, Charmie Sibug, has been consistently kind, patient, and reassuring.”
The Trust says there is ambition to build on this progress, with the potential for more procedures to be safely offered as day cases in future.
