Consultant surgeons at Yeovil hospital will be assisted by a cutting-edge robot during certain procedures

A robot will soon be helping with operations at Yeovil Hospital.

The main theatres at Yeovil Hospital will be home to the device, following news the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust had received funding for the new surgical system.

Surgeons and theatre teams in Yeovil are celebrating news of their device – a da Vinci Xi surgical system – the second in the county.

Consultant colorectal surgeon Claudia Reali, who has completed her training with the system and will be one of the first to use the robot, said: “I am absolutely over the moon that we will be receiving the da Vinci system.

“While a robot may sound like it does all the work, this isn’t the case. As a surgeon, I will still be performing the operation but the robot will translate my hand movements at the console in real time, delicately bending and rotating the instruments while performing the procedure.

“The tiny instruments can move just like a human hand, but with a greater range of motion so we can be less invasive during intricate surgeries.
“The team is rightly excited because we know this will be hugely beneficial for our patients and their recovery.”

Claudia will be able to use the robot for bowel cancer patients almost straight away and the team is looking to develop the system’s use into gynaecology, as well as exploring the possibilities other areas including general surgery and urology.

Yeovil Hospital site medical director and consultant urologist, Paul Foster, added: “This is fantastic news for our surgical teams in Somerset and is a great step forward for surgery in the county.

“By embracing the latest cutting-edge technology, we can provide the best possible care for our patients.

“The news has also been a fantastic boost for the teams involved as well as our wider colleagues. You’ve never seen such an excited bunch of surgeons.”

Da Vinci systems are used in a range of surgical specialities including urology, gynaecology, colorectal, thoracic and head and neck.

There are more than 34,000 independent studies that suggest robotic-assisted surgery can offer patients demonstrated benefits compared with open surgery.

These can include reduced blood loss, reduced risk of infection, fewer complications, a reduced length of stay in hospital thanks to the improved recovery time, and a reduced chance of readmission.