Robot set to remove prostate

A cancer patient will be the first in Britain to have his prostate removed using a hand-held robot today.

Stuart Ellis, 52, from Cheadle Hulme, will undergo the revolutionary operation at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

The device allows the surgeon to combine the touch and feel of traditional surgery with the greater accuracy and dexterity of articulating instruments, according to the hospital.

It is said to provide greater flexibility than the human wrist, and also allows more precise stitching for better recovery.