Royal Stoke University Hospital has achieved an extraordinary feat. It has recently become the first hospital in England to start using the cutting edge “Magic Leap” surgical system. This state-of-the-art technology enables surgeons to visualize intricate three-dimensional images of a patient’s spine during operations using specialized virtual reality goggles. The decision is expected to improve surgical outcomes for more than 1,000 patients annually.
Royal Stoke, the largest facility of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), leads an effort to empower challenging medical care. This impacts life-saving procedures, including emergency and open-heart surgeries. The meeting point of the hospital is the striking multi-storey facade, clad in bright, eye-popping red and yellow shell. It is quickly becoming a national and international center for robotic surgery in the UK.
Royal Stoke plans to advance these features further, so surgeons would be able to sense tissue resistance in real time. This will complement the ground-breaking augmented reality “Magic Leap” technology. This national roll out would be a first for the UK in adopting this technology. This deepens the hospital’s bench on its commitment to pioneering new, minimally invasive surgical techniques.
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures.” – Philip Varghese, consultant colorectal surgeon at UHNM
It’s anticipated the Royal Stoke expansion will free up approximately 5,000 bed days annually. This increase will allow for streamlined patient care and increase hospital efficiency. The NHS estimates that by 2035, half a million operations will stand to gain from this path-setting method annually.
Royal Stoke estimates that robotic assistance will be used in 90% of its keyhole surgeries over the next decade. This includes major surgeries that remove organs or body structures affected by cancer. The hospital’s leadership expects robotic surgery will be the norm for most surgeries in just a few years.
“Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation.” – Coates
Coates further emphasized that this investment will enable more patients across the region to access world-leading surgical care closer to home. The integration of advanced technologies such as the “Magic Leap” system positions Royal Stoke as a frontrunner in revolutionizing surgical practices, ultimately benefiting countless patients in the area.