Robotic surgery hailed as 'exciting opportunity' for patients
Bosses at the RUH, Swindon's Great Western Hospital and the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust say the investment is part of their commitment to patients across the region
The RUH says patients across the region are now 'seeing the benefit' after major investment into robotic surgery at our local hospitals.
The surgical robots in Bath and Swindon have already been used with their first patients, and mean people are less likely to travel long distances for operations.
The hospital has called the investment part of the commitment that has been made across the local area to invest in the latest technology, which has been developed over many years and is already in operation in other parts of the NHS.
It means surgeons can operate with higher levels of precision, and perform complex procedures with minimal access, while ensuring the highest levels of patient safety.
Bosses have called them 'an exciting opportunity' and 'an amazing development' for the community across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.
One of the first people to successfully undergo surgery using the robot in Swindon was Ann Everden, who said: “I was happy to be operated on using the robot, it’s the future. Everything that is happening now is going to be for the benefit of not only the NHS but for the future of everybody health wise.”
The Chief Medical Officer at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Jon Westbrook, said: “More patients will soon be seeing the benefits that come with the less invasive procedures that are made possible thanks to our new surgical robot. The robot is an important advance in our care, as it will improve treatment for our patients and allow them to leave hospital sooner.
"The acquisition of this robot, and those at our partner hospitals, also means we will also be able to continue recruiting and retaining the very best surgeons here in our local area, as well as being able to share expertise between local providers.”
Cara Charles-Barks, Chief Executive of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’m delighted that we have launched robotic surgery at the RUH. This will not only benefit the people we care for, with less invasive procedures and faster recovery times, but it also gives us an exciting opportunity from a recruitment and retention perspective. It’s an amazing development for our community in Bath, Swindon, and Wiltshire.”
Duncan Murray, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: “The outcome benefits to our patients of having local access to robot-assisted surgery have already been well described. Furthermore, providing this state-of-the-art technology within our hospitals will ensure we strengthen and sustain our surgical teams in the future by continuing to attract the best clinical staff across a range of surgical specialties.”
This investment is part of a local commitment to ensuring that the quality-of-care patients receive is of the highest standard, carried out using the most modern technology.