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Robotic surgery
Thanks to five robots we funded, length of stays in hospitals have been cut for patients, surgeries are taking less time, and more surgeries have been performed.
Since 2017 we’ve invested over £12.8m for Barts Health NHS Trust to set up and expand its robotic surgery programme.
What is robotic surgery
Robotic surgery uses robotics to assist surgeons, typically through small incisions (otherwise known as minimally invasive surgery). A surgeon controls the robot from a console, which provides a magnified, 3D view, and translates the surgeon’s hand movements into precise, scaled-down motions. The robotics are helpful during surgeries because they have a greater range of motion than a human wrist.
Benefits for patients include:
- Quicker recovery
- Shorter hospital stays
- Reduced risk of infection
Our robotic surgery funding
In 2017 we awarded £5.2m to establish St Bartholomew’s Hospital and The Royal London Hospital as centres for robotic surgeries. Two robots were installed – one in each hospital. They were then able to offer robotic surgeries for the following procedures:
- Thoracic
- Gynaecology
- Urology
- Ear nose and throat (ENT)
- Hepatobiliary
In 2024 we invested a further £7.6m in funding to expand the robotic surgery programme. Three additional robots were installed, one at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, one at The Royal London Hospital, and, for the first time, one at Whipps Cross Hospital. These additional robots increase the number of existing surgeries procedures offered, and mean the hospitals can introduce renal, colorectal and cardiac robotic surgeries.
"Robotic cardiac surgery has completely transformed how I care for my patients - offering the same life-saving outcomes as traditional sternotomy [surgical procedure that involves cutting through the breastbone] but with significantly less trauma, faster recovery, and a quicker return to normal life. It's not just a technical evolution - it's a profound human one."Dr Dincer Aktuerk, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Barts Heart Centre
600
additional surgeries performed between July 2024 and February 2025
90%
of patients at Whipps Cross reported a positive experience
63
minutes saved for some surgeries at The Royal London Hospital
1st
centre in the south of England to offer cardiac robotic surgery
How robotic surgery helps our community
Keith is one of the many people whose lives have been changed thanks to the robotic surgery programme.
“About a year and a half ago, I started experiencing weird dizzy moments. One artery was blocked by about 96%, and something terrible was about to happen. It was getting painful, and I was becoming dizzy and breathless all the time.
“Dincer recommended the da Vinci non-invasive bypass procedure on one artery and explained it thoroughly.
“The recovery period was amazing. Within three weeks, I was doing five mile walks every day and within four weeks I was practically running the course. I’m back to doing everything I did before, but with renewed strength.”
Thank you to our supporters
The robotic surgery programme was made possible thanks to:
- The Alamouti Family
- A generous gift in memory of Vahab Samadian, by his wife Dr Sima Motamen-Samadian PhD
Similar projects we've funded
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600 additional surgeries with new robots in East London and length of stays cut
One year after Barts Charity invested £7.6m in funding for Barts Health NHS Trust to expand its robotic surgery programme, East London hospitals are reaping the benefits.
Support healthcare innovation in East London
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