NHS Golden Jubilee reaches ROSA robot landmark

NHS Golden Jubilee has become the first NHS Scotland health board to carry out more than 100 orthopaedic joint replacements using the ROSA robot.

It also means that the Golden Jubilee now has the second highest number of ROSA procedures across the UK, and comes just a few months after the hospital celebrated its 1,000^th robotic orthopaedic joint replacement overall.

The hospital’s ambitious robotic strategy for Scotland is bringing significant benefits to patients, including potentially shorter hospital stays, quicker recoveries and fewer complications from surgery.

When compared to traditional surgery, robot-assisted surgery delivers greater implant accuracy, reduced soft tissue damage and less blood loss.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital, Nick Holloway, said: “We started using the Rosa robot back in July 2021 as an extension of the Orthopaedic Department’s robotic strategy to bring technology and computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery to more of the implants we use for patients across the country.

“This technology drives precision, accuracy, reduces variation and helps improve the predictability of outcomes for patients.

“It also gives us the ability to plan the operation before you even get into the operating theatre. This means we can pre-plan and essentially see the outcome on screen before the patient is even under anaesthetic. This allows for more consistent outcomes, reduces human error and gives more confidence in the precision of your surgery.”

Not only can it help drive improved patient outcomes, but robot surgery also has the potential to benefit the NHS long-term. Patients undergoing robotic surgery are less likely to require repeat joint replacements in later life, saving millions for NHS Scotland in the future.

NHS Golden Jubilee Medical Director, Dr Mark MacGregor, said: “We now have five surgical robots as part of our robotics programme here at NHS Golden Jubilee for orthopaedics, lung cancer, colorectal and other procedures.

“By collaborating with health boards from all across the NHS Scotland, this not only has huge benefits for patients all around the country but is providing vital support to help tackle waiting lists both now and in the future.”

Last summer, NHS Golden Jubilee’s national Centre for Sustainable Delivery signed a Memorandum of Understanding along with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, University of Glasgow, AstraZeneca UK and Lenus Health to help transform the health of the local population with new digital technologies and patient pathways.