CMR Surgical (CMR) – the British medical robotics company – and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WHTH) announce that WHTH will be the first in the UK to simultaneously install two Versius® Surgical Robotic Systems.
WHTH plans to operate using Versius across multiple specialities, including colorectal, gynaecology, urology, and upper gastrointestinal surgery. WHTH intends to replicate the savings in bed days seen at sites with existing Versius programmes, helping to alleviate the pressure NHS services are facing with bed capacity. WHTH chose Versius because of its small, modular design, which means that it can be easily moved between operating theatres, and integrated into existing workflows, so that the hospital can maximise its usage. The surgical robotics programme at WHTH will see more patients being offered a minimal access approach, bringing with it benefits including a reduction in post-operative pain, blood loss and scarring as well as improved patient recovery times and a reduced stay in hospital for patients.
I am excited to implement our surgical robotics programme, helping to drive better outcomes for our patients. With Versius, our surgeons will be able to perform complex operations with the enhanced precision and control that robotics offer. We are committed to scaling up our robotics programme at speed and believe that having two robotic systems from the outset, which can be easily moved between operating rooms and integrated into existing workflows, will help us achieve this.
As well as investing in improved patient outcomes, WHTH hopes that the robotic surgery programme, alongside its new teaching hospital status, will increase staff happiness and morale, as well as improve staff retention and recruitment of new talent.
Mike van der Watt, Chief Medical Officer of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We have seen from other trusts that investment in next generation surgical technology has helped attract and retain talent, whilst helping to alleviate the physical toll experienced by surgeons during surgery. With two Versius Surgical Robotic Systems, we will attract top talent as well as provide training and development opportunities for existing staff.”
Dr Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer of CMR Surgical commented: “We’re hugely proud to partner with WHTH on an NHS-first implementation of two Versius systems. We know from previous partnerships that as well as providing improved patient outcomes through access to minimal access surgery, and a more comfortable quality of working life for surgical teams, an investment in surgical robotics like this will truly put WHTH on the map as a centre for excellence in health technology.”
