Robotic surgery to be expanded to help more patients
The surgical robot fleet at Barts Health is to be expanded thanks to £7.6million of funding from Barts Charity.
Three new surgical robots are to be added to the two already installed at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and The Royal London Hospital. Since they were introduced in 2017, more than 2,000 patients have benefitted from robotic surgery for thoracic, gynaecology, urology, ear nose and throat (ENT) and hepatobiliary procedures.
Additional robots will be installed at St Bartholomew’s and The Royal London and, for the first time, Whipps Cross Hospital.
For patients this will mean greater access to minimally invasive procedures for a wider range of conditions including heart, kidney transplant and colorectal robotic surgery.
Funlayo Odejinmi, Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross Hospital, said: “Whipps Cross is now poised to ensure equitable access to ground-breaking surgical care. This not only enhances our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes but also reaffirms our commitment to pioneering medical excellence for the communities we serve.
“We have an exceptional surgical team here at Whipps and the addition of a robot will continue to allow us to motivate and retain our staff as well as attract the best surgeons to join our team.”
The expansion will see St Bartholomew’s become the first hospital in the south of England to offer cardiac robotic surgery.
Sasha Stamenkovic, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at St Bartholomew’s, said: “I have seen over 1,600 patients benefit from innovative and complex surgery for chest tumours, lung cancers and advanced emphysema because of the first robot. Patients are going home in better condition and earlier.”
The additional investment will bring the benefits of robotic surgery to even more patients, not just across East London, but patients from surrounding areas of London who will be eligible for referral. In some cases, patients may be referred nationally.
Elly Brockbank, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at The Royal London Hospital, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Barts Charity has agreed to fund three additional surgical robots for the Trust. This will enable us to improve patient outcomes and equity of access for patients in East London and beyond through the expansion of robotic minimally invasive surgical capacity.
"As a robotic Gynaecological Oncology surgeon at The Royal London Hospital, I have seen first-hand the amazement my patients have had at the lack of pain after a robotic hysterectomy and the ease of their recovery. We can now offer the benefits of robotic surgery to even more women under our care, easing their recovery from cancer surgery.”
Robotic surgery is minimally invasive (using smaller surgical cuts) and precise. This can lead to fewer complications and improve recovery times. In many cases, patients can leave the hospital the same day and recover at home, returning to normal life soon after surgery.