Watford General Hospital leading the way with robotics technology

A Watford hospital is pioneering robotics technology that could see cancer patients go home within 24 hours of an operation.

Watford General Hospital's Robotic Centre of Excellence, renowned as one of the most advanced robotic centres in Europe, has invested in two more state-of-the-art robots, which could soon facilitate such quick discharges.

Surgeons from around the globe, including South Africa, Germany, Sweden, and Poland, have to understand how these robots are used, their benefits, and the training required to operate them.

Around 360 patients have had robotic surgery in the hospital (Image: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

Around 360 patients have already been treated using robotic surgery since the initiative started less than two years ago — a figure expected to rise significantly to 750 a year.

Prior to their introduction, patients typically spent around five days in a hospital post-surgery. Now the duration has been reduced to between two and three days.

Vanash Patel, a specialist surgeon leading 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."

Vanesh Patel leads the robotic centre for excellence (Image: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

This technology is considered less invasive and results in less blood loss, which allows the trust to aim to send patients home within 24 hours post-surgery. Recovery can then be monitored through the trust’s award-winning ‘virtual hospital’.

In collaboration with its delivery partner Central London Community Healthcare Trust, 5,000 patients were treated via the virtual hospital from April 2023 to February 2024.

"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," said Mr Patel.

The robotic surgery can allow for patients to leave hospital quicker (Image: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

In 2022, West Herts procured two Versius robots — more than any other trust in the country at the time, and has now invested in two additional bots: the US-built da Vinci Xi and the Procept BioRobotic.

The former has a dual surgeon console, enabling more teams to train for robotic-assisted surgery, benefitting patients across four surgical specialities: colorectal surgery, upper gastrointestinal surgery, gynaecology, and urology.