Patients at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, England, now have access to some of the most advanced care in the world thanks to a new surgical robot.
The Da Vinci surgical system robot will initially be used to assist with surgery on urology and upper/lower gastrointestinal patients. The robot allows surgeons to perform more complex procedures using a minimally invasive approach to surgery. By using enhanced surgical capabilities the robot brings several advantages for the patient, including: improving the clinical outcomes, reducing their length of stay in hospital, reduced trauma to the body; and a faster recovery from surgery.
Dr David Blainey, medical director for Mid Essex Hospitals, expressed his enthusiasm for the purchase of the robot: “This trust already has a strong reputation for providing world-leading standards of clinical care, in areas as complex and diverse as burns & plastic surgery, head & neck surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology and keyhole surgery. By adding a robot to assist with surgery we are providing patients with the highest levels of care, reducing their individual recovery times and making significant steps to meet Lord Darzi’s recommendation to embrace new clinical technology.”
The use of robotic techniques in surgery is well understood across the world. However, Broomfield Hospital, thanks to support from NHS Mid Essex is only the 15th hospital in the UK, and the first in Essex, to adopt robot assistance for surgery, and is determined to maximise the opportunity to consolidate its position as a leader for innovative patient care in Britain.
Sallie Mills Lewis, director of commissioning & service redesign for NHS Mid Essex, added: “We are pleased to be able to support this exciting new development. It is one of the finest examples of how far healthcare has advanced in the last 60 years. By investing in the new services we are helping to fulfill our commitment to providing the best care possible. We are delighted to be able to offer this new service in Mid Essex.”
During the next few months the trust is embarking on a comprehensive programme to install and test the equipment and to train the consultants to deliver the highest possible patient care using this world-leading technology.
