MAJOR bladder cancer surgery has returned to North Wales following a successful recruitment drive for new surgeons.

New Consultant Urological and Pelvic Oncology Surgeon, Mohamed Abdulmajed, performed the first Cystectomy last month at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Cystectomy is a surgery to remove the urinary bladder. In men, removing the entire bladder typically includes removal of the prostate and seminal vesicles. In women, radical cystectomy could also involve removal of the uterus, ovaries and part of the vagina.

Patients who require this type of surgery would have previously been sent to hospitals in Liverpool, Manchester, Newport or London for their operation.

Last year, the Leader reported on the fact a Mold resident was left waiting for months for treatment for his bladder cancer.

The issues were ignited by the fact he was referred to Royal Liverpool Broad Green Hospital, which for "staffing difficulties" was no longer accepting Welsh patients.

However, the appointment of Mr Abdulmajed, who took up his role in the Health Board in August, means such issues for North Wales residents should be fewer and further between.

Mr Abdulmajed said: “A cystectomy is one of the biggest operations within Urology.

“The surgery can take up to five hours, possibly longer, and may on occasions require the input from other surgeons within other specialities, such as colorectal and gynaecology.

“Patients require life-long follow up care after this kind of surgery. By having this surgery available for patients in North Wales means, they are now able to have their surgery closer to their home and have access to the same specialist team who carried out that operation for their future follow-ups.

“This is an exciting time for us in Urology and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in shaping our Urology cancer services to benefit our patients in North Wales”.

The Leader:

And Flint-resident Gareth Roberts, 73, was the first person in three years to undergo the procedure at Ysbyty Gwynedd after being told he needed surgery after his bladder cancer returned.

He said: “I was first diagnosed with bladder cancer around two years ago and underwent a course of chemotherapy.

“During the summer I went for my check up at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, following my scans and a biopsy they discovered my cancer had returned. It was then I was told I would need a cystectomy – the whole process was extremely quick from that point.

“I was aware this type of surgery was carried out outside North Wales so when I was told I was having it at Ysbyty Gwynedd I felt relieved it wouldn’t be too far away.

“I can’t fault the care I have received, everyone has been wonderful, from the surgeon to all the team on the hospital ward, and I think it is fantastic how this surgery is now available in North Wales for people like myself.”

The Leader:

Professor Iqbal Shergill, clinical lead for Urology at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and clinical director for North Wales Clinical Research Centre, added: “We are really pleased to welcome Mr Abdulmajed to the Urology team in North Wales, and we also have a further two robotic surgeons joining us in early 2021, to help us lead the cystectomy service for bladder cancer patients."

He added: “The recent appointment of another two Urology Cancer Surgeons will ensure that patients in North Wales will soon be able to receive high quality treatment locally.”