The Royal United Hospital (RUH) has already shown incredible leadership around surgical innovation. They recently added the Da Vinci surgical robot to their arsenal, improving their ability to deliver care. The system’s innovative robotic technology made it possible to perform the radical prostatectomy on Eddie Harvey. Because of this state-of-the-art technology, he was able to go home the same day as his procedure. This historic accomplishment pays tribute to an increasingly rare milestone. It represents the last time—so far—that such a patient has had this surgery and returned home within hours.
By 2023, the RUH had adopted the Da Vinci robot. This ambitious decision was made to ensure that patients received the highest quality of care through advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques. The Da Vinci robot is a cutting-edge surgical system that allows surgeons to operate with increased precision. This revolutionary technology allows for much faster recovery. Harvey and other patients reap tremendous benefits from this technology.
On the day of his operation, Harvey arrived at the hospital at 07:00 and was pleasantly surprised to be discharged later that evening. His experience reflects the efficiency of the robotic system and the skilled team of surgeons at RUH who operated it.
“I arrived at hospital at 07:00 on the morning of the operation and was back home later that night, I was a bit surprised, but delighted.” – Eddie Harvey
For Harvey, his journey started when a letter from his general practitioner—after a routine physical—led him to being referred to the GI lab. An MRI scan showed signs of potential cancer in his prostate, immediately putting him on the fast track of his medical team’s response.
“I was referred to the RUH by my GP after a checkup, and an MRI scan at the hospital showed there was suspicion of cancer in my prostate.” – Eddie Harvey
Within weeks of his diagnosis, Harvey had surgery. Alex shared his gratitude for the expeditious manner in which his protocol treatment was handled.
“Within a couple of weeks, I was having surgery. Everything moved really quickly, I was so impressed.” – Eddie Harvey
Since the robot was launched at RUH, the Da Vinci robot has been used to carry out hundreds of procedures. It’s now a tool for performing the most complex surgeries with precision and comfort. This value-added capability reduces the hospital’s and patient’s recovery time, making it a recurring competitive resource. Surgeons at RUH have fully adopted this high-tech system, both increasing their surgical capabilities and significantly improving patient outcomes.