Northamptonshire Trust Gears Up to Boost Robotic Surgeries with New Tech

The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire is planning to increase the number of surgeries it performs using robotic technology. Robotic-assisted surgery is a special way of doing operations where a machine with several arms helps the doctor. The robot's arms can move in very precise ways, and the doctor controls them using a computer console. This technology is used to treat different types of cancer, including those in the stomach, bladder, head, neck, and for women. Since 2022, the hospital has completed 1,500 robotic surgeries. The first robot was used at Northampton General Hospital in March 2022, and a second robot was added at Kettering General Hospital in August 2025. Now, the hospital trust is trying to get a third robot to help even more patients.

Robotic-assisted surgery works by making small cuts in the patient's body, which are called key-hole incisions. The robot's arms hold special tools that the doctor controls from a console. The doctor can see a 3D image of the inside of the body, which helps them do the surgery more accurately. The robot does not work by itself; the doctor is always in charge. This kind of surgery is less invasive, which means patients usually have smaller wounds and heal faster. The hospital has trained 13 doctors to use the robots, and there are also other medical staff who help during the operations.

Dr. Jamil Ahmed, who leads the robotic surgery team, says their goal is to become a top provider of robotic surgery in the region. He believes that using robots can make surgeries safer and better for patients. The hospital wants to use robots for even more types of surgeries in the future, such as fixing complex problems in the stomach and other areas. Dr. Hemant Nemade, the medical director, also supports this plan. Patients who have had robotic surgery say they are happy with the results because they recover more quickly. The hospital is working hard to get another robot so they can help more people and continue to lead in this new way of doing surgery.