Surgical robot revolutionizing operations

The so-called da Vinci robot performed the first removal of a bladder in the north of England earlier this year and will be used by colorectal and maxillo-facial surgeons at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) for further procedures later this year.

So far it has been used for a total of 26 surgical procedures.

Mike Watson, 60, from Skipton, was the first person to have his prostate removed at BRI using the da Vinci robot with in built 3D camera, last year.

He said: “I was enthusiastic about robot surgery as I had done my research and learnt that the recovery time would be much quicker and that the actual incisions would be so much smaller than conventional surgery.”

The robot acts as an extension of the surgeon’s hands and fingers in miniature.

It has seen its technology developed by the NASA space programme and means patients can be operated on more quickly and their recovery time reduced.

Alongside Leeds, Bradford is one of only two centres offering the advanced treatment in Yorkshire.

Consultant surgeon, Sanjai Addla, said that the introduction of the robot will provide a “specialist hub” for urological cancer surgery in West Yorkshire.