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Spanish Town Hospital Urology Unit Marks Five Years with Nearly 1,500 Surgeries
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Health & Science

Spanish Town Hospital Urology Unit Marks Five Years with Nearly 1,500 Surgeries

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Spanish Town Hospital's urology unit celebrated five years of service, having completed nearly 1,500 surgical procedures.
  • The unit has expanded access to specialized urological care in St. Catherine and surrounding parishes, reducing the need for patients to travel.
  • Recent advancements include minimally invasive surgeries using a laser machine and procedures for prostate and kidney cancer.

The urology service at Spanish Town Hospital in Jamaica has marked its fifth anniversary, achieving a significant milestone by completing nearly 1,500 surgical procedures. Since its launch on May 3, 2021, the unit has become a leading public-sector provider of specialized urological care for St. Catherine and neighboring parishes, greatly improving access for thousands of patients.

Dr. Elon Thompson, consultant urologist and head of the service, attributed the success to the dedicated efforts of the entire healthcare team. He emphasized that the anniversary reflects a collective commitment to enhancing urological care accessibility. Key achievements include the hospital's first radical cystectomy for cancer treatment in January 2022 and its first laparoscopic nephrectomy in September 2023, showcasing the unit's growing expertise in complex and minimally invasive techniques.

This milestone belongs to an entire team of committed healthcare professionals who have worked tirelessly to improve access to specialised urological care for the people of St Catherine and beyond.

— Dr. Elon ThompsonThe head of the urology service reflected on the collective effort behind the unit's five-year achievement.

The unit has performed over 150 surgeries related to prostate cancer, including radical prostatectomies aimed at curing the disease. Further enhancing its capabilities, a laser machine acquired in July 2025 enabled minimally invasive kidney stone surgeries, leading to reduced recovery times and improved patient outcomes. This expansion of services has significantly decreased the necessity for patients in the region to seek treatment elsewhere.

Looking forward, the Spanish Town Hospital urology unit aims to further expand access to advanced services, boost training for healthcare professionals, and continue refining patient care. Dr. Thompson expressed pride in the accomplishments while stressing the ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, modern urological care close to home for the community.

While we are proud of what has been accomplished, our work is far from complete. We remain committed to building on these achievements and ensuring that the people we serve continue to have access to high-quality, modern urological care close to home.

— Dr. Elon ThompsonDr. Thompson outlined the unit's future goals and ongoing dedication to patient care.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jamaica Observer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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