Bolton medics travel 7,000 miles to perform life-changing operations

A Bolton-based surgical team have travelled 7,000 miles to deliver surgery.

The medical team from the Beaumont Hospital, part of the Circle Health Group, journeyed to Tanzania to perform life-changing hernia repair operations.

The trip was organised on behalf of Hernia International, a specialist medical foundation that assembles expert surgical teams to perform hernia surgeries in some of the world's most challenging locations.

The foundation currently operates in 23 countries.

(Image: AGENCY)

The team from Beaumont Hospital included John Hobbiss, a consultant general and colorectal surgeon, Dr Insiya Susnerwala, an anaesthetist, and Jaime Owen, a lead theatre practitioner.

Once in Muheza, a district within the Tanga region of Tanzania, they worked with local colleagues to operate on a population of 180,000 people at St Augustine’s district hospital.

Ms Owen said: "St Augustine Hospital has eight wards in total covering surgical, paediatrics and maternity care.

"Despite covering a large area, the hospital only had 270 beds available.

"We were all volunteers and were able to heavily subsidise the cost of the surgery to the patients under our care.

"It is estimated that nearly a million hernias are requiring treatment in Tanzania alone.

"The cost of surgery and the lack of expertise is a big contributing factor to this number rising substantially each year."

The cost of such surgery mostly ranges from 160k TZS (£50) in smaller centres to 600k TZS (£185) in larger hospitals.

Additional costs for different types of repair can reach up to 350k TZS (£108), a sum that's considered to be out of reach for many Tanzanians.

However, the Beaumont team managed to reduce the cost of surgery to just £30.77 per operation thanks to a pioneering surgical approach first used in India and tested by Hernia International.

The technique replaces the expensive mesh traditionally used in hernia repairs with a cheaper, far more readily available alternative: mosquito netting.

Mr Hobbiss said: "The results have been remarkable and working with our medical colleagues locally we were able to successfully treat 51 patients over the five days of our mission.

"Access to safe, effective and affordable healthcare should be a right everyone enjoys.

"We hope to return on a future Hernia International mission to continue this vital work."

The Bolton team also brought additional medical supplies like disposable gowns and surgical drapes, which were in short supply at the hospital in Muheza.

Ms Owens said: "It means a great deal to be able to help patients who otherwise would struggle to get access to the surgery they need.

"I hope to return with John and Insiya to carry on making a difference."

For more information about Hernia International and its work, visit www.herniainternational.org.uk