A GRANDMOTHER has become one of the first people in the country to benefit from robotic lung surgery.

Joy Barclay-Cooper, 74, from Worthing, said she felt "privileged" to have the pioneering surgery performed by robots at Guy’s Hospital, in London.

Thoracic surgeons at the hospital have performed the new procedure using two Da Vinci surgical robots.

The robots give surgeons better dexterity than in traditional keyhole surgery - described by experts as "operating with chopsticks".

Joy started coughing up blood when she was on holiday in Spain last spring. Tests showed something on her right lung but because it was in an awkward position doctors could not carry out a normal biopsy to analyse it.

She was referred to consultant thoracic surgeon Tom Routledge at Guy's Hospital, who recommended she become one of the first patients to have robot-assisted lung surgery.

She said: "Mr Routledge explained that robotic surgery would be the best way to access the area in my lung so that the tissue could be removed and analysed. He was absolutely brilliant and told me all about the procedure so I felt comfortable and confident to have it.

“I feel privileged to have had this cutting-edge surgery. I only had minor incisions so the healing process was fantastic. I would truly recommend it. Shortly afterwards the team from Guy’s told me that everything worrying has been removed with a clear margin, so I don’t need any further treatment. It’s marvellous.”

Mr Routledge said: “Robotic surgery allows surgeons a larger degree of movement during an operation than conventional keyhole surgery because the robot’s arms have elbows and wrists, whereas traditional keyhole surgery is like operating with chopsticks.

“Due to the extra precision the robots give us, we are able to carry out more complex procedures and patients should experience less pain, are able to go home sooner and make a faster recovery. Robotic lung surgery is mainly used to remove cancerous or benign tumours.

“At Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals we have one of the UK’s largest minimally-invasive lung cancer surgery teams which will be extended further by performing robotic surgery.”