A message from Niroo Rajendran MD FRCS, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon

Being able to offer robotic surgery to our patients here at Queen's Hospital will give a huge boost to both patients and our surgical team. The benefits are already clear as this is not a new approach to surgery but it is at the forefront of surgery technique and a radical change to the choices we offer for surgery to cancer patients in our hospitals.

The improved high 3D definition views, increased maneuverability within enclosed spaces and the precision that robot assisted surgery provide via motion scaling will undoubtedly be a positive development. We will be able to reduce blood loss, lessen complication rates and conversation to open procedures, and shorten the length of hospital stays. From prior experience in its use with rectal cancer patients it also seems to lessen post-operative pain.

From a surgeons perspective there is also the added benefit of being able to operate in an ergonomic position as surgical procedures often take many hours. Procedures are sometimes an endurance test for a surgeon having to bend and contort around your assistant which often leads to back fatigue. With the da Vinci Xi only one assistant is required meaning less backaches and less risk of musculoskeletal injury in future years.

George Wood, Chairman, King George & Queen's Hospitals Charity