NEWS
First patients in Wales treated with Versius surgical robot as part of national programme
CMR Surgical (CMR) – the global surgical robotics business – has announced that the first patients in Wales have been treated as part of a new all-Wales National Robotic Assisted Surgery Programme, using the Versius Surgical Robotic System. Colorectal patients at the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board have begun to receive successful robotic-assisted surgery with the Versius surgical robot. In North Wales, at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, cases have started in gynaecology. The National Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Programme was introduced by the Welsh Government to improve outcomes for cancer patients by increasing the number of patients across Wales who have access to less-
invasive, minimal access surgery (MAS). MAS offers well-recognised benefits to the patients, when compared to open surgery, including reduced pain, scarring and recovery time. Versius enables surgeons to perform complex procedures precisely and accurately, with the surgeon operating four robotic arms from an independent, open console. Jared Torkington, lead clinician for the National Robotics-Assisted Surgery Programme and consultant colorectal surgeon at Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, said: “We are hugely excited about the start of a unique, networked robotic programme in Wales, designed to improve the quality of surgery, attract and retain staff and work with the public in highlighting the
importance of early presentation and existing screening programmes in bowel and other cancers.” Mr Richard Peevor, consultant
gynaecological oncologist at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, who will be one of the first surgeons to use the robot, added: “We are proud to become the first surgical discipline to use robotics to treat our patients in North Wales. We are offering this surgery to women needing gynaecological procedures, including hysterectomies. “Robotic surgery has many advantages compared to open surgery; benefits include less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery. Here in Betsi Cadwaladr we are the Gynae Cancer Surgical Centre for North Wales, so having the robot available to us will really strengthen the service we already have in place for our patients.” Later this year, two further health boards
will start using Versius for surgical cases. The programme is expected to expand to cover upper GI and urology in addition to colorectal and gynaecology. The all-Wales programme aims to standardise patient care across the country, and will mean that patients will not have to travel to England for robotic procedures. The programme will also benefit from research generated through CMR’s global clinical registry, which consists of real time data on surgical procedures, helping to build a benchmark to support surgical standards within robotic-assisted surgery (RAS).
Survey highlights concerns within UK MedTech sector
Regulatory uncertainty is threatening to damage growth opportunities for the UK HealthTech sector, a latest industry survey suggests.
The assessment comes from the Association of British HealthTech Industries, the UK’s leading Trade Association for health technology, whose latest membership survey indicates that following the publication of the UKCA consultation, three quarters of the health technology industry believe that the UK will no longer be seen as a priority in the global environment. The Association’s membership, which accounts for 80% of industry sales within the UK, is also concerned about the future regulatory environment within the UK, with only one in 10 HealthTech companies agreeing that the UK will develop a best-in-
class regulatory regime. The data provide a number of explanations for this increasing loss of confidence in the UK market, including constrained capacity, with 19% of companies unable to engage with their Approved Body early to explain new technologies. This is compounded by dramatic rises in costs, with 20% of companies seeing their regulatory fees increase by over 50%. While crucially industry maintains confidence in the UK to protect patient safety, the primary objective of any regulation, data shows the UK has fallen behind both the EU and US as an attractive place to do business or to promote the development of innovation. The Association is now calling on the government to reduce ongoing uncertainty by providing the legislative amendments that the UKCA consultation response commits
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to, and to work with the industry to provide a roadmap for the development of the UK system. It has also highlighted the need to overcome capacity constraints and reduce the regulatory cost burden placed on companies. View the report at:
www.abhi.org.uk
NOVEMBER 2022
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