The new da Vinci 5 system is now in place at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, part of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
It will support a range of surgical specialties including gynaecology and abdominal or general surgery.
The team using the da Vinci 5 surgical system. (Image: Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
Hampshire Hospitals is the first in the UK to use this new generation, which is the most advanced and integrated da Vinci surgical system available.
It offers significant technological advancements to help surgeons and care teams in improving patient outcomes.
Merv Rees, clinical director and senior surgeon at Hampshire Hospitals, said: “The da Vinci 5 surgical system really is the most amazing thing to happen in surgery.
“With over 150 design enhancements and 10,000 times more computing power than before, our surgeons will be able to use this advanced system to operate more efficiently and help provide better outcomes for patients through less invasive procedures, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery and reduced re-admissions.”
The da Vinci 5 surgical system during one of the first surgeries. (Image: Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
The purchase of this high-specification surgical system was made possible by a multi-million-pound charitable appeal by Hampshire Hospitals Charity in collaboration with Hampshire Medical Fund.
It’s a significant boost to the trust’s long-term robotics strategy, aligning with the government’s 10-year health plan and the expansion of robotic-assisted surgery.
Mark Hainy, head of charity at Hampshire Hospitals Charity, said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to help bring in the funds to provide Hampshire Hospitals with its first surgical robot.
“Our ethos is to raise charitable income to fund projects that make the experience of visiting our hospitals the best it can, and we’re proud to be bringing this important piece of surgical technology to Basingstoke to benefit our patients.”
Pulkit Sethi, consultant hepatobiliary surgeon, who carried out the first successful procedures, said: “Having the ability to perform surgery with the da Vinci 5 surgical system has been transformative.
“The system offers exceptional dexterity and precision, allowing my hand movements to be translated into remarkably fine, controlled actions by the instruments.
“Using this advanced technology allows us to perform highly complex procedures with greater accuracy, minimal invasiveness, and improved recovery times for our patients.”
The system has now been used to perform its first surgeries and patients are recovering well.