West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals install two Versius systems in NHS first 

CMR Surgical (CMR) – the global surgical robotics business – and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WHTH) announce that WHTH will be the first in the UK to install two Versius® Surgical Robotic Systems.

This announcement builds on the trust’s recently awarded teaching hospital status. Once fully implemented, WHTH plans to provide surgical procedures using Versius across multiple specialties, including colorectal, gynaecology, urology, and upper gastrointestinal surgery. WHTH intends to replicate the savings in bed days seen at sites with existing Versius programmes, helping to alleviate the pressure NHS services are facing with bed capacity.

WHTH chose Versius because of its small, modular design, which means that it can be easily moved between departments and hospitals, and integrated into existing workflows, so that hospitals can maximise its usage. Further, Versius has an open console that facilitates clear verbal and non-verbal communication between the surgeon and surgical team.

WHTH expects that scaling its surgical robotics programme will see more patients being offered a minimal access approach, bringing with it benefits including a reduction in post-operative pain, blood loss and scarring as well as improved patient recovery times and a reduced stay in hospital for patients.

Vanash Patel, consultant colorectal surgeon at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, explained:

“We are excited to implement our surgical robotics programme, helping to drive better outcomes for our patients. With Versius, our surgeons will be able to perform complex operations with the enhanced precision and control that robotics offer. We are committed to scaling up our robotics programme at speed and believe that having two robotic systems from the outset, which can be easily moved between operating rooms and integrated into existing workflows, will help us achieve this.”

As well as investing in improved patient outcomes, WHTH hopes that the robotic surgery programme, alongside its teaching hospital status, will increase staff wellbeing, morale, and talent attraction and retention.

Mike van der Watt, Chief Medical Officer of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said:

“We have seen from other trusts that investment in next generation surgical technology has helped attract and retain talent, whilst helping to alleviate the physical toll experienced by surgeons during surgery. With two Versius Surgical Robotic Systems, we will attract top talent as well as provide training and development opportunities for existing staff.”

Dr Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer of CMR Surgical commented:

“We’re hugely proud to partner with WHTH on an NHS-first implementation of two Versius systems. We know from previous partnerships that as well as providing improved patient outcomes through access to minimal access surgery, and a more comfortable quality of working life for surgical teams, an investment in surgical robotics like this will truly put WHTH on the map as a centre for excellence in health technology.”

CMR has successfully negotiated competitive tenders in numerous markets, through novel and flexible pricing models designed to increase access to transformative robotic assisted surgery.

Versius is established as a valuable surgical tool in a number of hospitals across Europe, India, Australia, and the Middle East.

Expansion of Versius within the NHS in the UK represents an important development for CMR as it continues to demonstrate significant value to patients, surgeons, and leading health systems globally.