UPDATE - Issue 18 - Summer 2004
French keyhole lesson
A 35-year-old expectant father is off to Bordeaux in mid-September for six months in order to learn the finer art of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy thanks to Prostate Research Campaign UK. He is Neil Barber FRCS (Urol) a Specialist Registrar at Eastbourne who lives in Hammersmith and whose wife is due to present him with their first child in October.
Laparoscopic surgery is considered standard in mainland Europe, but is less common here and as a research-based charity we wish to see the skills acquired and brought back here for the benefit of men in the UK. Mr Barber, a highly-rated surgeon here, will spend six months under the tutelage and training of Professors Piechaud and Gaston at St Augustin Hospital, Bordeaux - a recognised centre of world renown. Doubtless Mr Barber will make several weekend trips home through the tunnel but will need to learn too that Voulez-vous garder le bébé means Will you look after the baby?
Good luck in both spheres!