University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) is on the cusp of dramatically increasing its surgical capacity. They will unveil new specialized robotic equipment, custom built for use in highly complicated operations. The five-year initiative is intended to benefit more than 1,000 patients annually at the trust. The Royal Stoke hospital was on course to become a national center of excellence for robotic surgery.
The Royal Stoke hospital will be the first in England to use the groundbreaking “Magic Leap” surgical system. Now surgeons have the ability to view detailed 3D images of a patient’s spine in real time during operations. This advancement is only possible thanks to custom virtual reality goggles. Royal Stoke is piloting exciting new technology that allows surgeons to feel tissue resistance in real time. This addition will greatly improve surgical accuracy.
This project very much fits the NHS’s longer-term vision. They are projecting that English hospitals will perform nearly half a million operations per year using robotic assistance by 2035. Just in 2023-24, this approach enabled the creation or maintenance of an estimated 70,000+ operations. In fact, the NHS expects that in less than 10 years, 90% of all keyhole surgeries will be performed with robotic assistance. This extends to processes of organ removal for the purposes of cancer.
For UHNM, the future of robotic surgery integration shines bright with possibilities. The patients and the healthcare system will reap these benefits together. The initiative is projected to immediately save an average of nearly 3,000 bed days per year. With improved operations that number will increase to at least 5,000 per year.
Philip Varghese, a consultant colorectal surgeon at UHNM, has gone all-in on the project. He highlights its crucial importance in broadening surgical care for patients.
“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).
Continuing to invest in this highly complex, robotic surgery has an exponentially positive impact on patient care. It delivers world-leading surgical practices directly to the doorsteps of local residents. Denise Coates underlined the dedication to making a positive impact on communities with this newly-launched initiative.
“Supporting projects that make a lasting difference to local communities remains a core focus of the foundation.” – Denise Coates.
“This investment will allow more patients across the region to benefit from world-leading surgical care closer to home.” – Denise Coates.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is taking steps to become a centre of excellence for robotic surgery. Patients can look forward to more innovative treatment alternatives, providing them with quicker recovery and better results.
