Hi-tech robots will help hundreds of hospital patients to get home faster after an operation
Posted: 20 May 2024
An NHS Trust has cemented its reputation as one of the most advanced robotic centres in Europe with an investment in two more state-of-the-art robots – and the technology could soon allow cancer patients to go home within 24 hours of an operation.
Experts from all over the world, including South Africa, Germany, Sweden and Poland, have visited Watford General Hospital’s Robotic Centre of Excellence to learn more about how surgeons use the robots, the benefits and the training required to operate them.
Around 360 patients have been treated using robotic surgery since the programme started less than two years ago – and that number is expected to rise to 750 a year.
Before the robots were introduced, patients typically stayed in hospital for around five days after an operation. That has now been cut to two days and the aim is for patients to be allowed home within 24 hours in future – as the surgery is less invasive and leads to less blood loss.
Recovery in some cases can then be monitored through the Trust’s award winning ‘virtual hospital’, which allows patients to be cared for from the comfort of their own home using specialist tech and the support of experts, who can track key health metrics remotely or in person when needed.
Between April 2023 and February 2024, in collaboration with West Herts’ delivery partner Central London Community Healthcare Trust, 5,000 patients were treated via the virtual hospital, saving an estimated 4,500 bed days and scoring on average 9/10 on patient experience questionnaires.
The Trust runs a robotics training programme for junior doctors and has upskilled 14 surgeons to use the robotic systems, which have a number of benefits for patients, staff and the hospital, including:
- Operations are safe, accurate and less invasive.
- More precision, flexibility and control than is possible with traditional procedures leading to less blood loss.
- Robotic surgery allows for small, pinpoint incisions leading to less pain.
- This means a shorter stay in hospital and quicker recovery after surgery.
- Greater comfort for surgeons who can sit and operate the machines
- High patient satisfaction.
- Boosted recruitment and retention at the Trust from surgeons wanting to learn new skills.
West Herts bought two Versius robots in 2022 – more than any other Trust in the country at the time - and has now invested in two more: the US-built da Vinci Xi, which is considered the most advanced in the world, and the Procept BioRobotic, which is used to treat an enlarged prostate.
The da Vinci Xi has a dual surgeon console, which allows surgical trainees to gain hands-on experience in robotic-assisted surgery alongside an experienced surgeon. This will enable more teams to train to use the da Vinci system and will help patients across four surgical specialities: Colorectal surgery, upper gastrointestinal surgery, Gynaecology and Urology.
West Herts is believed to one of only a handful of Trusts to operate both types of robots, giving surgeons greater flexibility and tools for treating patients.
Vanash Patel, a specialist surgeon who leads the robotics programme, said: "We’re proud to be building a global centre of excellence for robotic surgery at West Herts, and to offer patients the latest technology for treating cancer and other conditions.
"The fact the Trust has now invested in these robots means even more patients will be able to benefit, and get home faster, and with less pain.
"The future of healthcare will increasingly be about harnessing the power of technology and combining that with human expertise and care - to offer the best possible treatment for our patients.
"Our virtual hospital is already transforming how we look after people by giving them the high-quality care they need without having to be on a hospital ward."
The Trust is already widely seen as one of the most advanced in the UK for embracing technology, establishing itself as a leader in adopting robotic surgery.
Ginny St John Glew recently benefitted from robotic surgery and post-operation care via the Trust’s virtual hospital after an early-stage cancer was detected.
"I could go home after just two days, as the robotic keyhole surgery meant I had much smaller wounds, and I was able to do my own observations.
"All I had to do was open the app, use the given equipment and it went straight to Watford by Bluetooth, incredible! I had daily phone calls from the Virtual Hospital team, the surgeon’s registrar and regular calls from the specialist recovery nurse. I felt very confident at home, so soon after surgery and knew that there was always help just a phone call away.
"It took less than two months from the diagnosis to being told by the surgeon that all the cancer had gone and I needed no further treatment, (apart from five years of monitoring). I have made a good recovery, which I’m sure was helped by robotic keyhole surgery and being in the care of the Virtual Hospital for five days after I came home."
Ends
- For more information, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.net. Out of hours, please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on call communications manager.
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals; Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 600,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,800 staff and volunteers.
- For more information about our hospitals, visit the trust website. You can also join us on Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube and LinkedIn @WestHertsNHS
