A hospital has welcomed the first robotic technology to its operating department – with patients having knee surgery set to benefit.
The University Hospital of Hartlepool has invested in the ROSA robot for use on patients needing a knee joint replacement.
The state-of-the-art technology helps surgeons position implants more accurately during an operation.
Anwar Jafri, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, and his team at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation started using the system last week.
Mr Jafri said: “We are delighted to offer this to our local community.
“This robotic surgical assistant is going to help us offer individualised treatment for each patient. It is also going to help us plan, prepare and position implants with a high degree of precision and consistency.
“It will add to the other cutting-edge technologies we already use in the service. These include the mymobility patient App for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, that we have pioneered with our industry partners Apple and Zimmer-Biomet.”
The App can be used by a patient on their smartphones – allowing health staff to support patients with education and advice both before and after surgery.
Sarah Waite, theatre robotic matron, said: “It is an exciting time for the trust as we significantly invest in robotic technology to help provide even better treatment and care for our patients.”
Robot technology in use across hospitals
The trust first invested in robotic technology in its other operating department at the University Hospital of North Tees some time ago.
The Da Vinci robot is helping to improve accuracy, reduce pain after surgery and help get patients home sooner.
The trust is also investing in a new robotic and emergency maternity theatre at the North Tees site, with works progressing.
Sarah added: “It is an exciting time for the trust as we significantly invest in robotic technology to help provide even better treatment and care for our patients.”
Last year the Hartlepool site was successful in being awarded surgical hub accreditation from NHS England – meaning it can increase the number of non-urgent operations it carries out for issues like hip and knee replacements, gynaecology, surgical and breast procedures.