Royal Stoke University Hospital will become the first in the UK to use some of the latest pioneering technology. This cutting-edge technology enables surgeons to detect tissue resistance in real-time during minimally invasive procedures. This progression is part of a larger effort by Royal Stoke, through the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), to do so. They have put a huge effort into making the facility a world class center of excellence in robotic surgery.
Royal Stoke certainly made history in October. This made it the first hospital in England to adopt the “Magic Leap” surgical system. This innovative technology allows surgeons to view detailed 3D images of a patient’s spine while operating, using specially designed virtual reality goggles. These cutting-edge visualization platforms will sharpen the focus and effectiveness of surgical procedures.
Once complete the project at Royal Stoke will help to treat more than 1,000 patients a year. It will help get people through complicated, life-saving operations, like trauma and cardiac surgery. In addition, robotic surgery will be saving an estimated 5,000 bed days annually. We will achieve significant efficiency gains across the entire public and private healthcare delivery system.
Consultant colorectal surgeon, Philip Varghese, who has played a key role in this groundbreaking project. He emphasized its importance by stating,
“This expansion significantly strengthens our ability to deliver robotic surgery across a wider range of complex procedures.”
The NHS is convinced robotic surgery will play an increasingly important role in the future. By 2035, they predict that robots will aid a half million operations per year. In the new fiscal year 2023-24, experts predict that 70,000 of those surgeries will employ robotic technology. Their “moonshot” target is for 90% of all major keyhole surgeries to be carried out robot-assisted within 10 years.
Royal Stoke’s commitment to advancing surgical capabilities aligns with the NHS’s vision for robotic surgery to become the default option for many operations in the near future. The building’s dynamic architectural language includes beautiful red and yellow perforated metal cladding on the lower third of the facility. Specifically, it was crafted to improve surgical performance, enhance the patient experience and reduce time for recovery.
Supporting this initiative, Coates from UHNM remarked,
“This investment will allow more patients across the region to benefit from world-leading surgical care closer to home.”
He further noted,
“Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation.”