Royal Stoke Hospital, in Stoke-on-Trent, England, is the headquarters of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM). They have achieved phenomenal breakthroughs in the field of robotic surgery. In October, OSH made history by becoming the first hospital in England to introduce the pioneering “Magic Leap” surgical system. With O-arm technology, surgeons can receive real-time detailed 3D images of a patient’s spine while performing surgery. We believe that this advancement will improve the surgical experience for patients and health care providers across the board.
Their specially designed virtual reality goggles provide, literally, a whole new view on complicated procedures. With this technology, surgeons are able to not only see, but engage with their patients’ anatomy in a secure and dynamic environment. The launch of this system further establishes Royal Stoke as a leader in robotic surgery. It gets the hospital one step closer to achieving status as a center of excellence for robotics.
The multi-storey building of the hospital holds attention with its vibrant red and yellow cladding on the base level. This bold new design will house innovative technology to better serve more than 1,000 patients annually. This advanced system will help surgeons complete complex procedures such as trauma and adult heart surgery. Royal Stoke will soon become the first UK hospital to implement this cutting-edge tech. This patent provides surgeons with the ability to sense a change in tissue resistance instantaneously, providing significantly increased surgical accuracy.
The National Health Service (NHS) expects a tenfold jump in the use of robotic surgery in the next four years. Though robotic technology now complements about 70,000 surgeries per year. Projections suggest that this number will skyrocket to 500,000 by 2035. The NHS for one hopes to have 90% of all keyhole surgery carried out with the aid of robots in the next 10 years.
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures,” stated Philip Varghese, a consultant colorectal surgeon at UHNM. His statement underscores the hospital’s eagerness to embrace new technologies that ultimately improve patient care.
Additionally, Coates from the foundation involved with the project noted, “Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation.” This investment signals a much larger commitment to addressing systemic inequities and improving healthcare access and quality for patients in the region.
“This investment will allow more patients across the region to benefit from world-leading surgical care closer to home,” Coates added, highlighting the initiative’s potential impact on local healthcare.
