HEREFORDSHIRE might be known as a rural and sparsely populated county but that is certainly no barrier when it comes to introducing revolutionary new medical treatments.

Consultant urologist Wasim Mahmalji, 35, has been at Hereford County Hospital for nearly two years and has introduced the Urolift treatment for men suffering from enlarged prostates.

The minimally invasive procedure can be done quickly under general or local anaesthetic and works by inserting simple implants to lift or hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way and increase the opening of the urethra.

Alongside Warwick, Hereford County Hospital is the first in the region to offer the treatment.

Mr Mahmalji said: "We try our very best here at the county hospital to get our waiting lists under control and think out of the box with new things. Everyone works so hard.

"This treatment is time efficient, maximises theatre usage and capacity and on the right patient it's got good clinical outcomes."

Urolift has fewer side effects than traditional surgery – which often requires several days in hospital – and patients normally go home on the same day.

Mr Mahmalji, who first discovered Urolift at a urology conference, said a trial involving 11 patients took place last year and the team was then able to get the treatment commissioned on the NHS.

Those who suffer from an enlarged prostate, which is common in men over 50, typically contract urinary tract infections, have a weak flow or go to the loo a lot during the day and night.

Patients do have to meet a certain criteria to be eligible for the treatment and data collected from those who have received it so far show that around 90 per cent had very good outcomes while 10 per cent did not.

Mr Mahmalji said: "It's like anything, there is a learning curve. The most important thing is that patients are counselled correctly that this is not a miracle, it's an option, and if you meet the right criteria you will likely have a very good outcome with it. Some people do better than others."

The average operation time for all patients so far is just 8.5 minutes. Average time in theatre – from going in for anaesthetic to coming out – is 18 minutes and the average overall time in hospital is 10 hours.

It is hoped that one session per month or two months will take place at Hereford County Hospital.

Mr Mahmalji said: "Every hospital has its own problems. The difference here is we are quite keen to solve ours. It would be very blasé to say 'stick that person on the waiting list' but everyone is very proactive in saying 'let's see if we can help ourselves' and hopefully this will.

"The stereotype of rural old Herefordshire isn't particularly true – there's no reason we cannot bring cutting edge technology here if it meets the needs of the people."