Royal Stoke University Hospital is firmly establishing its reputation as a pioneer and leader in the field of robotic surgery. This transformational new project will allow it to care for over 1,000 new patients a year. This new project will make far more complicated steps – such as doing an emergency cardiac surgery – a lot easier. The hospital is committed to being a regional center of excellence in advanced robotic technology.
The project has received significantly more media attention because Royal Stoke’s is on the cutting edge of advancing on using smart surgical systems. This hospital was the first in England to take on the groundbreaking “Magic Leap” surgical system. This groundbreaking technology provides surgeons with high-definition, 3D images of a patient’s spine in real time during procedures. Royal Stoke will become the first facility in the UK to bring in this pioneering technology. This groundbreaking innovation will enable surgeons to detect tissue resistance during their procedures, greatly improving quality, precision, and the sophistication of surgery.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) is working increasingly with UHMB as partners on this pioneering project. The expansion is expected to save about 5,000 bed days per year, up from the 3,000 currently saved. This decrease is important because it means increased quality of care for patients while helping hospitals use their resources more effectively.
Philip Varghese, consultant colorectal surgeon at UHNM, was in favour of the project, saying ,
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures.”
The NHS expects robotic surgery to assist with some 500,000 procedures per annum by 2035. So far, in this 2023-24, about 70,000 procedures have been supported by robotic technology. Moreover, the NHS plans for 90% of all major keyhole surgeries to involve robotic assistance within 10 years. Accordingly, robotic surgery is on the cusp of becoming the standard of care for most surgical procedures.
The project at Royal Stoke is one step in a “trailblazing approach” to robotic surgery spread across the NHS. The commitment to advancing surgical care aligns with broader health objectives aimed at improving patient outcomes while reducing hospital stays.
Coates, representing the foundation involved in the project, emphasized its community impact:
“Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation.”
He further noted that
“This investment will allow more patients across the region to benefit from world-leading surgical care closer to home.”