University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) will be at the forefront of robotic surgery. They’re piloting some of the most innovative surgical technology in the world at Royal Stoke Hospital. This effort is designed to improve the level of care patients receive by using robot-assisted technologies to complete complicated and even emergency procedures such as heart surgery. UHNM hopes this expansion will allow them to serve more than 1,000 patients per year.
Royal Stoke, one of four hospitals that make up UHNM, has a long history of innovation. It laid claim to being the first hospital in England to use the “Magic Leap” surgical system. In addition to saving time and costs, this new system allowed surgeons to read highly complex pictures of a patient’s spine using virtual reality goggles. With the introduction of robotic surgery, UHNM aims to move closer to becoming a centre of excellence for robotics in healthcare.
Robotic surgery alone is projected to save 3,000 bed days annually. This includes an estimated future increase to at least 5,000 bed days saved annually. According to NHS projections, robotic surgery would be possible for up to 500,000 operations a year by 2035. UHNM is taking proactive measures to become the trailblazer of this seismic shift in surgical operations.
Philip Varghese, a consultant colorectal surgeon at UHNM, said that this was the most important part of the announcement.
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures.” – Philip Varghese, consultant colorectal surgeon at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM)
In addition to improving patient outcomes, the trust plans to deliver 90% of its keyhole surgeries using robotic assistance within the next decade. This level of integration reflects a commitment to making robotic surgery the default option for many operations conducted at the hospital.
Coates, a delegate from UHNM, spoke to the wider significance of this investment.
“This investment will allow more patients across the region to benefit from world-leading surgical care closer to home.” – Coates
UHNM grows its surgical capabilities with advanced technology The initiative’s long-term goal is not just to improve the company’s service offerings, but to create an overall positive impact on the communities it serves. The hospital’s progress is just one example of a historic leap in the UK towards the future of surgical care in hospitals.