Royal Stoke University Hospital are on the cusp of becoming a world leading center for robotic surgery. The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) is recruiting new cutting-edge robotic surgical systems to radically transform patient care. This exciting new initiative will allow us to reach more than 1,000 patients annually. It will enhance the hospital’s capacity to conduct high-level interventions, including emergency and cardiac surgeries.
Royal Stoke will become the first hospital in England to operate the pioneering “Magic Leap” surgical system. This innovation is a major impact project – the first of its kind. This innovative technology means that in the operating room, surgeons can now visualize highly detailed 3D images of a patient’s spine in real time, increasing precision tremendously. To facilitate this, the hospital will employ specially designed virtual reality goggles, enhancing the surgical experience for both medical professionals and patients.
Royal Stoke’s revolutionizing of keyhole surgeries is their mission to go “paperless” in the operating theatre. Over the next 10 years, they intend to do at least 90% of these procedures, which include cancer organ removals, robotically assisted. With the addition of robotic surgery, it will be the go-to choice for most surgeries done at the center.
This expansion is expected to save approximately 5,000 bed days annually. It will improve transparency and continuity of patient care and increase productivity of surgical services. The NHS hopes that robotic surgeries will improve 500,000 more procedures a year by 2035. This is a significant increase over the 70,000 surgeries it financed in 2023-24.
Phil Varghese, a consultant colorectal surgeon at UHNM, called it a “real change”.
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures.” – Philip Varghese, consultant colorectal surgeon at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM).
Royal Stoke’s robotic equipment, all known for their striking white look. A team of physicians and medical personnel clad in blue hospital scrubs surrounded the intricate robotic set up. They were enthusiastic to see it in action.
Coates, a board member of the foundation that’s helping to bankroll this arts initiative, spoke about how the project will benefit the entire community.
“Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation.” – Coates.
He further added,
“This investment will allow more patients across the region to benefit from world-leading surgical care closer to home.” – Coates.