Hospital robot ops could improve colorectal surgery outcomes

The £3.6m robotic aid could help improve surgery outcomes, the trust said

Patients facing colon cancer surgery in South Yorkshire have been told help from a new robot could mean they have to spend less time in hospital.

The £3.6m robotic arm will "transform" how the Doncaster and Bassetlaw hospitals trust performs some procedures, it said.

Operated by a surgeon, the aim is for "minimally invasive" treatment and greater precision in keyhole surgery.

A spokesperson said the device could "significantly improve outcomes."

The Intuitive Da Vinci Xi robot, which also includes a 3D camera, is being funded by the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity.

The Intuitive Da Vinci Xi robot will arrive by April

Consultant surgeon Antonia Durham-Hall said: "As improvements are made in the early diagnosis of cancers it is extremely important that advancements are also made in how we treat them, so patients can go on to have a good quality of life post cancer surgery."

Dr Durham-Hall said the machine could mean faster recovery times for patients and, with some types of tumour, "improved cancer outcomes".

The robot is expected to arrive by April and three extra colorectal surgeons are due to begin training next month, bringing the total at the trust to four.

Trust chief executive Richard Parker OBE said: "Robotic surgery will soon become part of the core curriculum for surgeons, and without the robot, we could lose the ability to train some specialist surgical trainees."