Patients across Essex and east London can now access specialist treatment for severe erectile dysfunction closer to home, after we carried out our first penile implant procedures at King George Hospital. 

A penile implant is used to treat those with end stage erectile dysfunction when other treatments haven’t worked. This can have a significant impact on confidence, mental health, and relationships, particularly for younger people.

It can occur for several reasons, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and following treatment for cancers such as prostate or colorectal cancer.

Previously, patients often experienced long waiting lists of 12 to 18 months and had to travel into central London to access this surgery.

One of the first patients to have the procedure said:

I’d been waiting quite a long time to have this done, so it was great to hear it was being provided at King George, which is close to Barking, where I live - I was back at home the next day. It’s something that’s affected my confidence over the past few years, so I’m really pleased to have had it done.

During the procedure, patients are fitted with a three-piece implant. Two cylinders are placed in the penis, a pump sits in the scrotum, and a reservoir is positioned in the abdomen or pelvis to allow it to be inflated. The surgery usually takes under two hours and is performed through a small incision hidden beneath the penis.

The procedures were carried out by our Consultant Urological Surgeon and Andrologist, Elizabeth Osinibi, assisted by Professor David Ralph, professor of urology at UCLH and UCL.

Elizabeth, pictured above, said:

I’m very pleased we can offer this treatment, allowing patients to access effective, timely care closer to home while receiving the same high-quality treatment available at specialist centres elsewhere.