Royal Stoke University Hospital is preparing to kick off a major expansion project. This decision is expected to enhance its reputation as a leader in robotic surgery. This project is in collaboration with the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM). It eventually hopes to turn it into a globally-recognised centre of excellence for robotics. Her project ultimately leads to better patient care and more efficient surgical procedures to over 1,000 patients each year.
In yet another first, Royal Stoke declared that it was the indeed the first hospital in England to use the pioneering “Magic Leap” surgical system. This fantastic news emerged in early October. Surgeons can now put on specialized virtual reality goggles that allow them to visualize highly detailed 3D representations of a patient’s spine in real-time while operating. This advanced technology increases the accuracy and safety of surgical operations.
Additionally, Royal Stoke will be the first in the UK to introduce HoloLens technology allowing surgeons to feel tissue resistance in real time. It’s the first time in a UK hospital that such an advanced feature has been installed. It’s poised to change the way surgeries are being performed. The hospital’s multi-storey inpatient building incorporates colourful red and yellow expressionist cladding at the base of the building. That bold design will lay the groundwork for innovation, cost-saving technologies and more.
The expansion at Royal Stoke is poised to assist with a variety of complex procedures, including emergency and heart surgeries. Consultant colorectal surgeon Philip Varghese, who has worked closely with the system, highlighted what a significant breakthrough this is, saying,
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures.”
The NHS recently published the first details of that trailblazing approach. By 2035, this program is expected to help make possible 500,000 walking, biking, or transit trips in England annually. Just in fiscal year 2023-24, this one-size-fits-all approach will be extended to an additional 70,000 operations. Royal Stoke’s improvements will have a huge impact on these numbers. Like these projects, they will save an estimated 5,000 bed days a year, on top of the 3,000 bed days a year they’re already saving.
Robotic surgery is quickly becoming one of the most important components of surgical practice. Or rather, as will be the case in the next decade when experts predict that robots will help perform 90 percent of all keyhole surgeries—including radical surgeries to remove cancerous organs. The robotic surgery hospital is betting that ten years from now, the minimally invasive method will be standard procedure for the majority of operations.
Coates, a North Staffordshire representative from UHNM, underscored the significance of this project when he said,
“Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation.”
He further added,
“This investment will allow more patients across the region to benefit from world-leading surgical care closer to home.”