Comedian Jon Richardson has cut the ribbon on a new department at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary while also learning some surgical skills.
The Lancaster-born entertainer officially opened the new urology department, which will welcome its first patients by the end of January.
The facility will offer cancer check facilities including flexible cystoscopy, a procedure used to examine the inside of the bladder, and biopsies for suspected prostate cancer.
Jon, star of TV shows including 'Jon and Lucy's Odd Couples' and '8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown', said: “My cousin Lorraine is a member of staff here, and is part of the team who will be here every day saving lives.
“It’s been an honour for me to meet some of the people who do incredible work as part of the NHS, which I'm in absolute awe of.
Urology is the surgical specialism that involves treating conditions affecting the urinary tract, including the kidneys and bladder.
Jon joked: “It’s appropriate to have a comedian open a department in which so much pee will be taken.”
During his visit to the department, Jon was given the opportunity to learn some of the clinical skills used by staff in the urology department, including learning to stitch wounds, fit catheters, and use the cystoscope – a special camera used to check the inside of the bladder for cancer or other problems.
"I have learned today to suture, to catheterise, and I've done a cystoscopy," said Jon.
"I've put cameras in places that had I done it to a human being, I could have had the NHS closed down, by the end of today!
"I can tell you from half an hour of doing it, that the staff who do it day-in day-out here, absolutely blow my mind.
"It's been an absolute honour to come and open a new part of the building that looks fantastic and is full of technology that saves lives, but I'm in no doubt in all that it's the people here who save lives."
WATCH Jon Richardson open the new urology department at the RLI and learn some of the skills used within it
The new department includes four clinic rooms, space for minor surgical procedures like vasectomies, facilities for ultrasound scanning and ‘urodynamics’ bladder function testing, and offices for clinical and support staff.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the RLI, has created the new dedicated space for urology at the hospital to improve patient experience and speed up treatment for some forms of cancer.
Specialist urology doctor Ms Sarah Hart led on planning the specification of the new facility in collaboration with the wider team.
She said: “It’s really exciting to be welcoming everybody on the new urology unit. It's been a long time in the making and has been an absolute team effort from everyone in the urology department and the wider Trust to make this happen."
“It was really super to welcome Jon Richardson on to the department so he could officially open it with the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The benefits of having a department like this are ultimately multi-factoral for patients. The majority of patients with a urology problem will be able to come to the clinic, have all of their tests done all on the same day and ideally walk away with a diagnosis - and also with a plan for how they can start to get better.”
Visitors to the open day event held on Wednesday January 10 at the RLI (pictured below) had the chance to tour the new facility, have a go at learning surgical skills and learn more about the work of the department.
Representatives of urology charities and suppliers of medical products used in treatment of urological conditions were also present to talk about their work.
UHMBT Chief Medical Officer Ms Jane McNicholas said: “It was wonderful to see so many staff and patients visit the new Urology Department to tour the excellent new facilities and learn more about its work.
“Everybody involved in the project, from the clinical team in urology to Estates, Capital Services, IT and more have worked so hard to bring this to fruition and we look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring to patients, including an improved hospital experience, reduced travel, and a faster hospital treatment pathway.
“We’re also very grateful to Jon Richardson for taking the time to join us as we mark the opening of the new department.”
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