Thousands of surgeons in the UK will now gain access to advanced training in da Vinci robotic surgical systems thanks to the opening of a robotics training centre.
It has been hailed as a big step in expanding ‘equity of access for patients’.
Intuitive, a pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery, has launched its new UK & Ireland headquarters, which includes a huge da Vinci RAS training facility in Reading.
The 21,000-square-foot site will house the latest Intuitive technology, including the da Vinci 5, Xi, and SP Surgical Systems, as well as the Ion endoluminal system.
Intuitive’s Global Professional Education & Programmes portfolio is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, with over 1,300 surgeons in the UK and Ireland trained to operate the da Vinci surgical systems and more than 89,000 trained globally.
David Marante, vice president of Intuitive UK & Ireland, said: ‘For 25 years, we’ve had the privilege of supporting hospitals to implement da Vinci RAS programmes in the UK and Ireland, working together to help improve patient outcomes, enhance patient and care team experience, drive productivity, and lower the total cost of care. Now, with our new expanded regional headquarters and training centre, we’re committing to the future – to expand equity of access for patients to quality, minimally invasive care with da Vinci and Ion systems, and to continue meeting the needs of care teams, hospitals and the NHS. The UK Government has made clear its commitment to more patients to benefit from robotic-assisted surgery. We’re here to help it deliver.’
The UK government and NHS England launched a plan in the summer to dramatically increase robotic-assisted surgery, aiming to perform half a million operations annually by 2035, up from 70,000 in 2023/24.
This expansion, part of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, aims to cut waiting times and is projected to result in up to 9 in 10 keyhole surgeries using robotic assistance within the decade.
Intuitive believes its investment in its new headquarters and training centre reflects its commitment to helping more patients to benefit from minimally invasive care.
Health Innovation Minister Zubir Ahmed said: ‘As an NHS surgeon and someone who performed robotic surgery early in its evolution, I know first-hand the potential of robot surgical systems like these. This new training centre will benefit thousands more surgeons and their patients as we shift healthcare from analogue to digital and build an NHS fit for the future.
Minister for AI Kanishka Narayan said: ‘Our 10 Year Health Plan will ensure patients get access to the latest innovations, expanding the use of robotic surgery, to deliver better, safer care. This is great news for doctors and patients alike. Intuitive is putting more cutting-edge tech on the frontlines of healthcare to transform outcomes for people and train the next generation of British surgeons in the process.
‘Technology like this isn’t just a win for the health sector, though, it’s a huge vote of confidence in British tech – putting home-grown expertise at the heart of the innovations which are transforming lives for people the world over.’
