Our Story
There are four main characters in this story. When the Universe brought Debbie Eaton, Robert Eaton, Professor Tahseen (Tas) Qureshi and Mr Robert Braithwaite CBE together, RB Project Q came to life.
On 12 November 2011, I (Robert Eaton) met for the first time Prof. Tahseen Qureshi, it was the day Prof. Qureshi saved my wife’s life. That near tragic event set in motion a course of events and a journey that beggar’s belief. That journey began with Prof. Qureshi and I fundraising to bring Robotic Surgery to Poole.
Unbeknown to myself in 2013 Mr Robert Braithwaite CBE, my friend, mentor, investor was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer, Robert chose Prof. Qureshi as his surgeon. Following successful surgical intervention by Prof. Qureshi, Robert became aware of our fundraising effort to bring Robotic Surgery to Poole. A Caring, Community Spirited Visionary, Robert joined with our effort and purchased the da Vinci Xi Surgical Robotic system for the “People of Poole”. The Robotic System was placed within Poole NHS Hospital under the control and leadership of Prof. Qureshi in October 2015.
Robert Braithwaite CBE
12 May 1943 – 7 March 2019
Building A Better Future.....
Living The Dream
1st Goal Achieved
Song: Sirius Album: Eye In The Sky Artist: The Alan Parsons Project
℗ 1982 Arista Records LLC
Filmed for the International Symposium of Minimal Invasive Surgery for Rectal Cancer by the University of Portsmouth in collaboration with Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on the 13th & 14th June 2016
At this juncture we had achieved our first goal, Robotic Surgery existed in Poole …But…Our (Prof. Qureshi, Robert and I) vision was the da Vinci Xi Robotic System would be the start of, not the end of the story. Very soon we realised due to financial constraints and limitations, the NHS would not, nor could not, develop the potential for Poole, The UK and Beyond that Robert’s donation of the da Vinci Xi offered. As a result, the concept of RB Project Q came into existence. On the Sunseeker International Stand at the London Boat Show 2017, on behalf of Mr Robert Braithwaite CBE I launched RB Project Q with our stated aim.
The Advancement of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery and Associated Medical Training and Technologies Locally, Nationally and Internationally.
Thanks to Chris Hall
From 2017 to today 2023 the journey has seen huge setbacks. In 2018 My friend, mentor and investor Robert became unwell. In March 2019 we lost Robert, he passed away from Vascular Dementia, not cancer. In March 2020 Covid hit, impacting until well into 2022. In June 2022 Plans of the vision were compiled and planning permission applied for. 10th March 2023 Outline Planning Approval was achieved, at which point I activated the plan to create the RB Project Q Social Enterprise enabling the engagement with other businesses, investors and the community. Until that moment all I had was an amazing story, now I have a deliverable model desperately needed by our community and our Country. Then add in, the majority of the rest of the world.