Explore presented or audited results from Professor Ilie’s NHS practice, including urinary recovery after surgery and national safety measures. Patient numbers, definitions and follow-up periods accompany each set of results.
58 of 59 men used no pads six months after surgery.
In this single-surgeon NHS series of 59 consecutive men, 98.3% were pad-free at six months. The reporting period was April 2023–December 2024. Pad-free means using no pads at all.
Why we report continence
Urinary continence means control of your bladder. Urine leakage can occur after the catheter is removed. These two NHS studies report how many men needed pads at different stages of recovery. The patient groups, time points and definitions are shown separately below.
Series 1: single-surgeon outcomes
| Patients | 59 consecutive men |
|---|---|
| Period | April 2023 to December 2024 |
| Surgeon | Every operation performed by Professor Ilie at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital |
| Definition | Continent means using no pads at all |
| Pad-free at 3 months | 81.7% |
| Pad-free at 6 months | 98.3% (58 of 59 men; the other man used one pad a day) |
Source: Prostate Cancer Research webinar, 20 May 2025.
Series 2: anterior-hood technique
| Patients | 90 consecutive men |
|---|---|
| Period | January 2023 to September 2025 |
| Surgeon | Professor Ilie, with robotic fellows carrying out parts of some operations under his supervision |
| Early continence at 3 months | 94.4% using no more than one safety pad a day |
| Pad-free at 3 months | 82% |
| Needing more pads | 5 men, of whom 3 already had leakage before surgery |
Source: BAUS East of England meeting, 8 May 2026; second prize for an oral presentation.
Reading these figures
Professor Ilie will discuss what these results mean for you, taking account of your age, prostate size, cancer and bladder control before surgery. When comparing results, consider the patient group, definition of continence and follow-up period.
National NHS benchmarking
NHS operating activity at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, April 2025–March 2026, compared with national figures for elective prostatectomy for cancer in patients aged 17 and over.
| Measure | Professor Ilie | National comparator |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure volume | 98 | Median 37; total 11,165 |
| Major complication in the same episode as radical prostatectomy | 0 of 98 (0%) | 325 of 11,165 (2.91%) |
| Readmission with major complication within 60 days of radical prostatectomy | 1 of 90 (1.11%) | 286 of 11,174 (2.56%) |
| Major complication with surgical intervention within 60 days of radical prostatectomy | 0 of 90 (0%) | 138 of 11,174 (1.24%) |
| All-cause emergency readmission with overnight stay within 30 days of discharge | 3 of 92 (3.26%) | 562 of 11,198 (5.02%) |
| All-cause mortality in the hospital spell or within 30 days of admission | 0 of 92 (0%) | 8 of 11,201 (0.07%) |
| All-cause mortality in the hospital spell or within 1 year of admission | 0 of 71 (0%) | 23 of 10,501 (0.22%) |
What the comparison means
Across the measures shown, the recorded complication, readmission and mortality rates are below the national figures. Professor Ilie will discuss what these results mean for your health, cancer and treatment choices.
Source: NHS National Consultant Information Programme / Model Health System, April 2025–March 2026.
Other audited NHS operating activity
Wider NHS surgical experience over the preceding twelve months, as recorded in October 2026. Contact the practice about private treatment availability.
| Procedure | Number |
|---|---|
| Robotic nephrectomy | 22 |
| Robotic partial nephrectomy | 5 |
| Robotic nephroureterectomy | 5 |
| Robotic pyeloplasty | 5 |
| Prostate biopsy (23 by MRI–ultrasound fusion) | 48 |
| HoLEP | 24 |
| TURP | 7 |
| UroLift | 7 |
| EchoLaser | 8 |
| TURBT | 33 |
| Diagnostic cystoscopy | 55 |
| Ureteroscopy for stones | 27 |
Source: NHS activity, 12 months to October 2026.
HIFU activity in 2026
26 procedures performed
1 January–9 October 2026
Professor Ilie performed 26 high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures in his NHS practice between 1 January and 9 October 2026.
HIFU is not available at Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
Source: NHS HIFU activity, 1 January–9 October 2026.
Look at the whole recovery picture
Cancer control, urinary recovery and sexual function all matter when choosing treatment. These results focus on continence and national safety measures. At consultation, discuss surgical margins, biochemical recurrence and erectile-function recovery alongside the results shown here, and how each relates to your case.
Your recovery also depends on your age, health, urinary and sexual function before treatment, cancer characteristics and the treatment required. Professor Ilie can help you weigh these factors against your priorities.
Each continence series has its own patient group, definition and follow-up period, shown in the tables above.
Where these figures come from
Explore the presentations and published research behind Professor Ilie’s work on recovery.
Published articles are listed separately, with links and an explanation of the type of study.
Explore the published research