~ Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust will use Versius as part of a multi-specialty programme beginning in urology and expanding to colorectal, upper GI, gynaecology and general surgery
~ The adoption at East Surrey Hospital emphasises the accessibility and versatility of Versius, which allows more patients to benefit from cutting-edge technology within their local communities, in addition to at teaching hospitals
~ Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust will use Versius as part of a multi-specialty programme beginning in urology and expanding to colorectal, upper GI, gynaecology and general surgery
~ The adoption at East Surrey Hospital emphasises the accessibility and versatility of Versius, which allows more patients to benefit from cutting-edge technology within their local communities, in addition to at teaching hospitals
CMR Surgical (CMR) – a global surgical robotics business – today announced the continued expansion of its next-generation surgical robotic system, Versius, within the NHS. For the first time, surgeons at East Surrey Hospital will be using a surgical robot to conduct various multi-specialty procedures, including complex cancer cases.
Versius has been adopted by the Trust to offer patients greater access to minimal access surgery (MAS), otherwise known as keyhole surgery. MAS is associated with a range of benefits for patients including less pain, reduced risk of infection, reduced recovery time and a shorter stay in hospital compared with traditional open surgery. For example, in nephrectomies – the removal of a kidney – MAS has been found to typically reduce a patient’s time in hospital by half.i
The programme at East Surrey Hospital will see surgeons from across upper GI, colorectal, general surgery, gynaecology and urology all utilising Versius. Due to its small, modular form, Versius can be easily transported between hospital departments and operating rooms.
Michael Wilson, Chief Executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, commented: “We are delighted to be making history at the Trust today with the introduction of our first surgical robot which will be part of a multi-specialty programme. It’s fantastic that with Versius, surgical robotics has become more accessible than ever before, allowing many more patients to benefit from the latest health technology within their local communities.”
Professor Abhay Rane, Consultant Urological Surgeon at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, adds: “We have actively chosen to adopt this new technology from CMR Surgical, a British company; this represents a positive milestone for the Trust and our patients. Versius’ clear 3D visualisation gives surgeons greater precision and control, thereby allowing for safer surgery with improved outcomes in the long run. It will be used in due course by all of our surgical specialties here at our Trust thereby benefiting a significant number of patients.”
The continued expansion of Versius within the NHS represents an important development for CMR Surgical as it continues to demonstrate significant value to patients, surgeons and leading health systems globally.
Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer at CMR Surgical, said: “We are thrilled that the team at East Surrey has chosen to adopt Versius to support them in offering more MAS to patients across the hospital. In designing Versius our goal was to provide a versatile and portable surgical robotic system – that could fit into virtually any operating room – to realise our mission to transform the field of minimal access surgery and make it available to many more patients around the world.”
ENDS
About Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust was formed on 1 April 1998 following a merger between East Surrey Healthcare NHS and Crawley Horsham NHS Trusts.
At East Surrey Hospital, Redhill we have 800 beds and provide acute and complex services. In addition, we provide a range of outpatient, diagnostic and less complex planned services at The Earlswood Centre, Caterham Dene Hospital in Surrey, and at Crawley and Horsham Hospitals in West Sussex.
SASH is a major local employer, with a diverse workforce of over 5,000 providing healthcare services to a growing population of around 535,000.
The Versius® Surgical Robotic System
Versius® resets expectations of robotic surgery. Versius fits into virtually any operating room set-up and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, increasing the likelihood of robotic minimal access surgery (MAS). The small, portable and modular design of Versius allows the surgeon to only use the number of arms needed for a given procedure.
Biomimicking the human arm, Versius gives surgeons the choice of optimised port placement alongside the dexterity and accuracy of small fully-wristed instruments. With 3D HD vision, easy-to adopt instrument control and a choice of ergonomic working positions, the open surgeon console has the potential to reduce stress and fatigue and allows for clear communication with the surgical team. By thinking laparoscopically and operating robotically with Versius, patients, surgeons and healthcare professionals can all benefit from the value that robotic MAS brings.
But it’s more than just a robot. Versius captures meaningful data with its wider digital ecosystem to support a surgeon’s continuous learning. Through the Versius Connect app, Versius Trainer and CMR clinical registry, Versius unleashes a wealth of insights to ultimately improve surgical care.
About CMR Surgical Limited
CMR Surgical (CMR) is a global medical devices company dedicated to transforming surgery with Versius®, a next-generation surgical robot.
Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, CMR is committed to working with surgeons, surgical teams and hospital partners, to provide an optimal tool to make robotic minimal access surgery universally accessible and affordable. With Versius, we are on a mission to redefine the surgical robotics market with practical, innovative technology and data that can improve surgical care.
Founded in 2014, CMR Surgical is private limited company backed by an international shareholder base.
References
i https://www.esht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/0147.pdf