Improving surgical outcomes with technology
Friday, 23 June 2023
Our Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre is treating even more patients, including those with cancer, thanks to the arrival of a new, state-of-the-art £2m Da Vinci robot.
The surgical centre opened at Clatterbridge Hospital in November 2022, with two new modern theatres. It was the first of a number of new build surgical hubs to open in the North West, aiming to tackle the backlog of people waiting for planned surgery due to COVID-19.
How does this improve services for patients?
The Da Vinci robot has been funded through Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance and uses advanced technology to enable surgeons to operate with greater accuracy. The robotic procedure is so intricate and precise it can peel a grape.
As well as resulting in better outcomes for patients, it also means faster recovery times with most people being able to go home the very next day.
This latest innovation will help us to treat even more people who have been waiting longer than expected for planned, or ‘elective’ surgery due to the pandemic.
From its opening in November 2022 to the end of March 2023 over 1,000 patients from across Cheshire and Merseyside were treated at the surgical centre.
In its first 100 days, the team at the surgical centre completed 350 orthopaedic, more than 650 urology and more than 150 general, breast and gynae procedures.
What's next?
More of the latest equipment and facilities are coming to Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre in late 2023 with the opening of two more theatres in phase two of the project.
Once phase two is completed, over 6,000 more patients will be treated at the centre each year from across Cheshire and Merseyside. Patients will benefit by getting quicker access to their planned operations and through the use of the latest technology.
The centre is one of the initiatives of our Cheshire and Merseyside Elective Recovery Programme helping hospitals make good progress in clearing the backlog of people waiting for planned surgery as a result of COVID-19, towards the NHS target of 52 weeks by 2025.
Find out more
You can read more about the Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre on the Wirral University Teaching Hospital website.