Technology
cutting-edge technology and its ongoing implementation across the nation, we are now realising what we set out to achieve through the expansion. “We have vastly reduced rates of open
surgery and we have improved equity of access to robotic-assisted surgery and its associated outcomes for patients. To reach this significant national milestone is testament to that.” Every board which has been able to enjoy the benefits of RAS has similar milestones to report – from NHS Fife’s Victoria Hospital being the First District General Hospital to adopt RAS in 2021 to NHS Grampian’s Aberdeen Royal Infirmary being a pioneering centre for robotic prostate cancer treatment. Another was celebrated last year by University Hospital Hairmyres (UHH) in Lanarkshire last when its surgical team successfully completed a 500th procedure since RAS was introduced to the hospital in 2022. Mr Fraser Maxwell, Consultant Surgeon, performed the milestone procedure and said: “We have been using the Da Vinci system in Lanarkshire since 2022 and the benefits for the surgical team are huge. We have a very stable high-definition 3D image, as well as instruments with a significantly improved range of motion compared to standard laparoscopic instruments. “We find that, on the whole, patients can
get back to normal activities much quicker. Some patients recover so quickly they can be discharged the following day after bowel cancer surgery. This was very uncommon with standard keyhole or open surgery.” NHS Ayrshire and Arran has been a particular pioneer in robotic-assisted gynaecology surgery after launching a programme in 2023, delivering cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatment to
RAS holds the promise of significant long-term benefits by reducing the likelihood of patients requiring repeat joint replacements in later life, potentially saving millions for NHS Scotland in future years.
more than 400 women since then, with more than 95 per cent able to return home the same day. Commenting on those achievements, Dr. Inna
Sokolova said: “I’m delighted to lead the way for Scotland in benign robotic gynaecological surgery, and to establish NHS Ayrshire & Arran as a centre for excellence in robotic surgical care for women. “This programme is a significant step forward
in improving access to advanced treatments, ensuring that women in Ayrshire and Arran receive the highest standard of care closer to home.” The health board noted that the success of its
robotic surgical programme has aligned closely with the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan, prioritising enhanced access to diagnostic and treatment services for conditions such as endometriosis. Meanwhile, the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital, which treats patients from health boards all over Scotland, was recently named the UK’s top performing centre for hip and knee replacements with RAS playing a significant role. In 2021-22, it carried out over 30% of all elective hip and knee replacements in NHS Scotland. This was achieved against a backdrop of robotic-assisted hip and knee replacements rapidly increasing across NHS Scotland, rising from just over 100 cases in 2020
to nearly 1,200 in 2024, providing a foundation for the broader adoption of these procedures across the country. Now, it has been reported that the Clydebank hospital performed 4,308 hip and knee replacements between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 – a significant 29.6% rise on the 3,323 completed the previous year. National Joint Registry figures place the hospital ahead of all other centres in the UK for the same period. Furthermore, the Golden Jubilee is expected to exceed 5,900 hip and knee replacements in 2025-26, around 1,600 more than the previous year. Part of the Golden Jubilee’s success has been attributed to RAS helping to improve implant accuracy and reduce tissue damage and blood loss. Professor Chris Gee, consultant orthopaedic
surgeon and associate medical director, said: “With eight orthopaedic theatres currently in use, and plans to expand to 10, our team of up to 27 surgeons is working to deliver up to four procedures per theatre each day, significantly increasing Scotland’s surgical capacity.” Lynne Ayton, executive director of
operations at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: “We’re demonstrating how innovation, efficiency and compassion can come together to transform elective care for patients across Scotland. “By collaborating with teams nationally,
embracing new approaches, and continually improving our model of care, we’re helping to build a more sustainable and resilient health service for the future.” NHS Golden Jubilee has a strong history of
RAS achievements. In 2023, it became the first NHS Scotland health board to carry out more than 100 orthopaedic joint replacements with the pioneering ROSA robot. It started using the robot back in July 2021 as
Above left: Surgeon at the console of a da Vinci robot.
Above right: CardioPrecision June 2026 I
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