Local NHS Trust introduces cutting-edge technology
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) is proud to announce the arrival of the ‘Da Vinci X’ Surgical Robot to the Trust. This cutting-edge technology marks a significant advancement in the provision of specialist surgical care for the people of south Warwickshire.
The addition of the robot will assist specialities such as Colorectal, Upper GI, General Surgery, Gynaecology and Urology. By utilising robotic-assisted surgery, this innovative approach will offer patients a minimally invasive alternative, resulting in shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times and an earlier return to their normal daily activities. This new innovation will aim to benefit hundreds of patients a year at SWFT.
The ‘Da Vinci X’ robot will push forward the frontiers of surgery offered at the Trust. With the robot taking on a significant portion of demanding tasks, surgeries will become less physically challenging for consultants. This innovative technology is expected to extend the careers of consultants, ensuring their invaluable expertise remains within the Trust long term.
The robot has two main components, the ‘robot’ itself which is called the ‘Patient Cart’, and the ‘Surgeon Console’. The ‘Patient Cart’ is attached to surgical ports placed into the abdomen by the surgeon, and then controlled via fibre-optic cabling and the ‘Surgeon Console’. The console translates all of the hand movements the surgeon makes into more steady, finer movements by the robot within the patient.
Tony Cave, who following a cancer diagnosis was the first patient to undergo surgery using the ‘Da Vinci X’ at SWFT, said: “I cannot speak more highly of the service and care I have received. It is beyond exceptional.
“I am now four weeks post-surgery. I feel stronger and healthier each day and, notwithstanding the nature and reason for the operation, I am immensely impressed and reassured that the success and my recovery has been accelerated by the robotic procedure, something I am privileged to have been selected for. In terms of physical appearance, the impact of any scars has been almost removed with the precision of the surgery method. This takes nothing away from the skill and personnel care and attention that I have received from the team, to whom I owe the start of my new life and am truly humble and grateful for.”
Nick Adams, who also underwent surgery at SWFT using the ‘Da Vinci X’ robot, said: “I was very grateful that once I was diagnosed, an appointment to see a consultant and a date for the operation was given very quickly.
“The surgery involved five small cuts in a diagonal line across my stomach with a larger one lower down. My recovery was very good, and I was out of bed the next morning and walking along the ward. On the second day after the operation, the surgeon said everything was good and I would be going home the next day. All the scars have healed well, dressings taken off a week later and I took painkillers for only two days after coming home.”
Henry Ferguson, Colorectal Consultant at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am proud to have been given the opportunity to train as the first ‘Da Vinci X’ Robotic Surgeon at SWFT. Having performed a number of robotic operations already, my patients have benefitted first hand from this exciting technological innovation, enabling them to recover swiftly and achieve excellent results from their bowel cancer surgery. I am looking forward to helping further surgical teams integrate robotic surgery into their practice in the departments of General Surgery, Gynaecology and Urology, so that the robotic programme can benefit as many patients as possible across south Warwickshire.”
Sean Ramcharan, Colorectal Consultant and Lower GI Cancer and Robotic Lead said: “As a hospital we are committed to providing the best up to date care in surgery. With this in mind, a number of years ago I put forward the original case for the introduction of robotic surgery. We faced many challenges and obstacles along the way, notwithstanding of course the Covid pandemic and subsequent NHS recovery. I am pleased we were able to see this to its fruition and therefore able to once again offer cutting edge treatment of bowel surgery for the people of south Warwickshire.”
In conjunction with the arrival of the ‘Da Vinci X’ Robot, SWFT launched a competition in early May for local primary and secondary schools in the Warwickshire area to help name the robot.
The winning name, a suggestion from Clapham Terrace Community Primary School’s Year 6 class, is: P.A.B.L.O (P = Providing A = and B = Benefiting L = Life Changing O = Operations). This name was chosen as it reflects SWFT’s ambitions for the surgical robot. The Trust would like to say a huge thank you to all the schools who made a submission for their time and effort.
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