Southmead Hospital is leading the way in surgical innovation. They’ve started rolling out da Vinci robotic arms, which are already used in hundreds of thousands of procedures each year. Consultant colorectal surgeon Caroline Burt hailed the use of these sophisticated tools. She painted them as “remarkably dextrous” and highlighted their key function in the NHS’s overly ambitious plan to eliminate waiting times by 2029. The robotic arms are poised to facilitate half a million surgeries, including hysterectomies and bladder operations over the next decade.
The robotic arms, draped in plastic sheeting during surgery, make for a very different precision and control in operating theatre. Partnering with surgeon Caroline Burt, the robotic technology supports in-the-moment changes during the procedure that make surgeries more fluid and efficient. Burt stressed, “The lead surgeon really does control the whole ballet . . . . Nothing goes without those lead surgeon’s hands getting activated and dissecting. No automated moves at all.”
Patient Lisa Brittain recently had surgery with this robotic technology at Southmead Hospital. She jokingly remembered her anxiety before surgery, as she “had visions of R2-D2,” from the Star Wars series. This playful comparison both underscores how cutting-edge the technology is and how widespread adoption of it has become with patients.
The number of operations performed by NHS England is going to be tripled through the implementation of these robotic arms. Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS Improvement and a leading architect of the initiative, was unapologetic about the technology’s hazard potential. He stated, “Not only does it speed up the number of procedures the NHS can do, but it means better outcomes, a faster recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients.” This is part of a wider commitment across the NHS to use the very latest technology to get better patient outcomes.
Meanwhile, Southmead Hospital in Bristol is quickly integrating robotic arms into its surgical repertoire. Together, this decision creates a powerful precedent for medical centers nationwide. This equipment’s ability to do so will support surgeons to focus on patient care with greater safety and control.