A CLACKS woman was the 500th patient to receive lung treatment from a groundbreaking robot surgery programme.

Una Scotland discovered she had lung cancer when she went for an x-ray for kidney stones at NHS Louisa Jordan in Glasgow.

She went on to receive the receive automated lung surgery at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

The 69-year-old said: “I was really shocked when I found out.

“We’ve all lost someone through cancer, but you never think it will happen to you so I’m really grateful to have received this treatment.

“I have four grandchildren so it means I can spend more time with them.

“I would like to thank everyone throughout the NHS for my care, it has been first class.”

Since using an Intuitive Da Vinci robot specifically for lung surgery in 2018, Thoracic surgeons at the Clydebank hospital reached the milestone in August, and are now doing up to eight robotic procedures every week.

The Da Vinci robot was delivered in 2018 and the innovative technology, which helps patients to recover more quickly whilst significantly reducing the potential for complications and nerve damage during surgery, will form a major part of the hospital’s lung surgery programme going forward.

Thoracic surgeon Alan Kirk said: “Since the beginning we have gone from strength to strength.

“We’ve now done more than 500 cases; we are the busiest unit in thoracic robotics in the north of the UK.

“We’ve gone from two surgeons to all six using the robot, which is key in terms of equity of access, to ensure all of our patients can benefit from this technology.”

The thoracic team at the Golden Jubilee can perform up to 1,400 chest operations every year.

Jann Gardner, NHS Golden Jubilee chief executive, thanked the team for their hard work and dedication and presented staff with a trophy to mark the milestone.

She said: “We are constantly told by our robotic colleagues in the UK, France and Italy how good we are here in Scotland and how quickly we’ve developed.

“The last three years have been absolutely fantastic in terms of our robotic thoracic programme and it’s not just the patients who have experienced the benefits.

“We will continue to help NHS Scotland continue and recover services during these challenging times, working in collaboration with other health boards.

“On behalf of myself and all of us at NHS Golden Jubilee, I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the thoracic team on this landmark accomplishment.

“The life changing work they do on a daily basis makes such a difference to so many patients and families across the country, and we are incredibly thankful for all that they do.”