Robotic-assisted surgery is rapidly expanding across the United Kingdom, offering patients potentially quicker recovery times and greater surgical precision. Several hospitals have recently announced milestones in their robotic surgery programs, signaling a growing trend toward the adoption of this technology within the National Health Service (NHS).
Southmead Hospital in Bristol , celebrated its 10,000th procedure utilizing a specialist robotic arm. The hospital was one of the first in the UK to employ robotic assistance for prostate cancer surgery, beginning in . The technology is now being used for a wider range of procedures, including hysterectomies and bladder surgery. NHS England anticipates that robotic surgery will be used to perform half a million procedures over the next ten years, aiming to reduce patient waiting times.
Patient Lisa Brittain, who underwent a procedure at Southmead, shared her experience, noting her initial association with the robotic arm and the science fiction character R2-D2. However, she expressed complete trust in the surgical team and described the experience as “quite amazing.”
The robotic system functions with the surgeon controlling robotic arms at a console, utilizing a 3D camera for precise instrument control. According to Caroline Burt, a consultant colorectal surgeon at Southmead Hospital, “It’s 100% the surgeon doing the operation. Nothing moves without the main surgeon moving and dissecting, so there’s no automatic movements in it at all.” Dr. Burt highlighted a key advantage of the robotic instruments: their ability to rotate and twist, allowing for “incredibly dextrous and accurate” movements compared to traditional, straight instruments. She also noted the equipment’s adjustability, which facilitates more efficient stitching.
Elsewhere, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust reached its own significant milestone, performing its 10,000th robotic-assisted surgical procedure. The Trust first introduced the technology in with a da Vinci surgical system and now operates four such robots across multiple specialties, including urology, gynaecology, colorectal surgery, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery. Alistair Hutchinson, a 49-year-old patient who underwent robotic surgery for throat cancer, reported that the procedure “truly changed everything,” allowing him to receive necessary treatment without experiencing the severe side effects he had feared.
The Royal Surrey performed just three robotic surgeries in its initial year, but the program has since grown into one of the busiest and most advanced in the country. In , over 1,500 patients benefited from robotic surgery at the Trust, which also performed more prostate surgeries than any other single-site hospital in the UK. Consultant Ear Nose and Throat surgeon David Walker emphasized that the robot enhances the surgeon’s capabilities, enabling complex operations through tiny incisions with greater accuracy and precision. “The robot does not replace surgeons but enhances their ability,” he stated.
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has also joined the forefront of robotic surgery, becoming the first in the UK to utilize the new da Vinci 5 surgical system. The system, funded through charitable donations, is currently being used for gynaecological and abdominal surgeries at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. Merv Rees, Clinical Director and senior surgeon with Hampshire Hospitals, described the da Vinci 5 as “the most amazing thing to happen in surgery,” citing its over 150 design enhancements and 10,000 times more computing power than previous generations. He believes the system will lead to more efficient operations, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times for patients.
Similarly, Wexham Park Hospital has reported “great success” with its new £2 million robotic technology, with an 80-year-old great-grandmother becoming the first patient to undergo robotic surgery at the facility. Kent hospitals are also utilizing robotic technology, with the first patients undergoing surgery using a new multi-million-pound robot at a Kent hospital.
The broader NHS initiative aims to significantly increase the number of robotic surgeries for cancer patients. The NHS National Cancer Plan targets an increase from 70,000 robotic surgeries per year to 500,000 by . This expansion reflects a growing recognition of the potential benefits of robotic-assisted surgery in improving patient outcomes and streamlining healthcare delivery.
While robotic surgery offers numerous advantages, it’s important to remember that it is a tool used by surgeons. The surgeon remains in complete control throughout the procedure, and the technology is designed to enhance, not replace, their skills and expertise. The increasing adoption of robotic surgery across the UK represents a significant investment in advanced medical technology and a commitment to providing patients with the best possible care.
