Royal Stoke University Hospital is well on its way to becoming the national center of excellence for robotic surgery. This movement is included within the NHS Trust of University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM). The hospital recently announced its initiative to integrate cutting-edge technologies, including the innovative “Magic Leap” surgical system, which it first introduced in October. This new system allows surgeons to view rich, high-definition, 3D images of a patient’s spine using specialized virtual reality goggles.
Enthusiasts, the “Magic Leap” system has recently been rolled out at Royal Stoke. Though still in its nascent stages, this highly promising invention seeks to enhance surgical accuracy and ultimately, patient care. The hospital is set to become the first in the UK to use this innovative technology. This unique technology will allow surgeons to better detect tissue resistance in real time during surgery, thus minimizing damage. This advancement will positively impact more than 1,000 patients per year. This is particularly true for high-cost, high-complexity, high-risk procedures such as emergency and cardiac surgeries.
TPP member UHNM wants to change the face of their surgical practices by introducing robotic surgery. They hope to have 90 percent of all major keyhole surgeries done with robotic assistance within the next 10 years. Surgical robotics, like many technology fields, is advancing at breakneck speed. We look forward to these technologies being the norm for all ops one day soon.
In other projects, including the Royal Stoke expansion project, providing additional capacity is already saving an estimated 3,000 bed days per year. You can bet that number will increase to at least 5,000 bed days per year! As per NHS estimates, robotic surgery will help perform up to 500,000 more operations per year by 2035. This trend is a reminder of how dependent we’re becoming on complex novel surgical interventions. So far this year, robotic surgery has assisted in 70,000 procedures – England only!
Philip Varghese, consultant colorectal surgeon at UHNM, is ardently enthusiastic about the initiative.
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures.” – Philip Varghese
The facility’s executives have called the plan a ridiculously sudden move to improve regional healthcare options. Coates, a representative from UHNM, stated,
“Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation.”
He noted that this investment will help more patients in the region get access to internationally renowned surgical care.
The Royal Stoke facility also pioneers the best in medical innovation. Its eye-catching multi-storey building doesn’t shy away from this impression, with a cacophonous palette of bright red and yellow cladding dominating the lower levels. Royal Stoke is in the process of becoming one of the world’s leading hospitals for robotic surgery. It aims to establish itself as a key provider of specialist care within the UK’s emerging mega-region.