7th February 2025

Health board becomes first in Wales to implement technology to tackle colon cancer – developed by Welsh med-tech company

A health board has become the first in Wales to implement a technology to treat Colon cancer, developed by Welsh med-tech company Creo Medical.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) will pilot the Speedboat Submucosal Dissection (SSD) technology.

It aims to transform the treatment pathway for patients with complex colorectal polyps.

The innovative device offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgery, significantly improving patient outcomes and recovery times.

Currently, patients with complex polyps often face multiple procedures or major surgery. This can result in lengthy recovery times and higher risks.

The Speedboat device allows clinicians to perform a single, minimally invasive procedure to remove polyps effectively. This reduces the need for surgery and enabling faster patient recovery.

Introducing the technology was also said to address a critical gap in treatment services in Wales.

Dr Alka Joshi, clinical lead for the pilot, said: “This pilot is a significant step forward for our patients. By utilising the Speedboat device, we can offer a more efficient, less invasive alternative to traditional surgical methods, improving outcomes and reducing waiting times.”

Three patients have undergone the treatment successfully with no recorded complications, since the pilot’s launch before Christmas.

Each procedure was completed in a single session, with all patients discharged the same day. One patient even resumed normal activities, including Christmas shopping, the very next day.

The pilot, backed by the Health Board’s Clinical Safety and Effectiveness Group, is supported by Creo’s on-site clinical education program, which reduces clinician training time from years to just months.

The mentorship model was said to enable ABUHB to embed the procedure at pace while ensuring safety and cost-effectiveness, creating a potential replicable blueprint for adoption across other health boards in Wales.

Rob Holcombe, finance director & innovation executive lead at ABUHB, added: “We are proud to champion this innovative Welsh technology in ABUHB. The early success of this pilot highlights the board’s commitment to delivering solutions that enhance patient care, reduce pressure on surgical services and demonstrate ABUHB’s approach to adopting medical innovation through ‘value- based health care’ outcome evaluation.”