Publish date: 27 February 2026
More patients undergoing TURBT procedures at St Mary’s Hospital can return home the same day, allowing them to recover comfortably while continuing to receive the highest standard of care.
TURBT is a minimally invasive procedure in which a telescope-like instrument is passed through the urethra to remove bladder tumours. It serves both as an effective treatment and as a diagnostic tool, helping 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 hospital has increased the number of day-case procedures by over 70%. This has been achieved by streamlining the patient pathway to make each step as efficient as possible.
The Trust has introduced a nurse-led cystoscopy clinic where patients have their bladder examined using a thin, flexible camera called a cystoscope. This service is helping people receive quicker bladder cancer diagnoses. In addition, the time it takes to triage MRI scans for prostate concerns has been reduced from ten days to just two, meaning patients get answers and next steps much faster.
These improvements have been supported by a major shift in how teams work behind the scenes. Speeding up pre-surgery checks and improving the way clinical teams work together is helping patients move through the system more quickly.
Mr Lokman, Associate Specialist and Clinical Lead for Urology, 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.”
A significant focus has also been placed on staff development. Theatre teams at St. Mary’s Hospital have been upskilled over several years so they can safely support more urology surgery and cover additional lists. Importantly, they 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 freed up specialist nurses to support patients in other important parts of the cancer pathway.
And visiting surgeons to the Island continue to bring fresh insights and expertise, building on the Trust’s already strong performance and helping drive further improvements.
Wootton resident Geoff Winch, 80, was first diagnosed with a bladder tumour in 2021 and underwent several procedures that required overnight hospital stays. In July 2025 and again in August 2025, he received bladder tumour resection treatment through the new day‑case service and has shared the positive impact it had on his recovery.
Geoff 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.”
The retired postman is still ongoing treatment which includes BCG treatment as well as future TURBT procedures to check for re-growth and abnormalities.
Thanking the staff that continue to care for him, 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.”
Looking ahead, there is a clear ambition to build on this progress. The Trust believes even more procedures could safely be offered as day cases in the future, further improving convenience and speeding up access to care for patients on the Isle of Wight.
