It means twice as many can walk

It is exciting that this surgery is coming to the UK. About 10 years ago, I would not have guessed it would improve the outcome so much for babies with spina bifida – but the numbers do not lie.

Twice as many babies can walk following this surgery and there are also fewer problems with water accumulating in the brain. It is also more comfortable for families if they can have this type of operation in their own country rather than having to travel abroad. Several operations on British patients have already taken place in Belgium by the combined British and Belgium team.

The TV programme showed how they were learning with our experts in Belgium, where we have been doing the operation since 2012. Now they are able to do this themselves at UK hospitals. But this operation is only a step in history.

University College London Hospital has a large research programme on foetal surgery and they are trying to make this procedure even less invasive.

We are working hard to make this keyhole surgery in the next couple of years. That will be a dramatic change as it is currently a big operation and we can make it better for the mothers.