02/09/2025
A state-of-the-art laser prostate reduction operation is now being successfully delivered in the county as a day case procedure.
HOLEP, or Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat difficulties in urination caused by an enlarged prostate.
Northampton General Hospital (NGH) has just delivered its 100th operation – 15 of which were day cases - and Kettering General Hospital has now delivered its first 16 HOLEP procedures since February.
HOLEP involves using a laser to help break-up and remove excess prostate tissue enabling easier urination.
It is considered a significant advance in prostate procedures because it usually improves urination considerably, takes a short time to deliver, and patients can recover from it more quickly, and with less complications, than other common procedures.
Surgeons at the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire – which runs Northampton and Kettering general hospitals – have been working hard to fully establish and deliver the procedure across both Trusts. Northampton is the first hospital in the East Midlands to deliver the procedure as a day case.
Well done to consultant urologists Mr Aakash Pai, at NGH, and Mr Shady Nafie, at KGH, for their work on this one.
Retired heating engineer David Leggett, 74, from Northampton, had the procedure at NGH as a day case. To read about his experience go to:
https://www.kgh.nhs.uk/news/hightech-laser-prostate-reduction-operations-now-being-delivered-in-northants-as-a-day-case-3178
Well done to all the individuals and teams involved in this improvement to patient care.
