Dozens of patients have taken to social media to thank NHS staff for their care following the arrival of the new Da Vinci XI surgical robot at the Northern General Hospital.
The groundbreaking technology, made possible thanks to a £1.45m donation from Sheffield Hospitals Charity, was unveiled in unique style at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday - with Mr Nehal Sureshkumar Shah using the surgical robot's high precision to cut its own ribbon and officially mark its debut at the hospital.
It will be used to help surgeons and care teams improve patient outcomes for a wide range of cancers including lung, oesophageal, stomach, bowel, liver, pancreas and kidney.
First procedures
Mr Clive Kelty and Mr Martin Trotter led the first robotic-assisted surgeries at the Northern General Hospital
The first procedures last week included six gall bladder operations (three on the first day), led by consultant surgeons Mr Clive Kelty and Mr Martin Trotter.
The thoracic surgery team, led by Mr Luigi Ventura, also performed the first thoracic procedures using the new surgical robot on Tuesday and Thursday. This included a lung lobectomy and a lung segmentectomy for the treatment of patients with lung cancer.
Up until now robotic-assisted surgery in Sheffield has been undertaken at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital primarily for operations on the bladder, prostate and womb. Other surgeries such as transoral robotic surgery for hard-to-reach areas in the back of the throat are also performed at the Hallamshire.
What our patients said...
Andrew Sturrock
I was the first of the six gallbladder patients. Thanks to all the Surgical team and those in Theatre Admission Unit. I'm enjoying getting my life back on track. More power to you all
George Brittle
I want to thank all the team at nothenr General hospital for me been the first patient to have the robot surgery on Tuesday morning to have my left hand lung cancer taken away i have just come home Thursday night where in hospital for 4 day and feeling a lot better I want to thank all the surgical doctors and nurses that look after me and the nurses on the ward that looked after me after the surgery thank you very much Mr George Brittle
Cadine Plunkett
I want to openly and publicly thank the team at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital for my robotics assisted cancer removal from my bowel on Wednesday morning. I've since being transferred to Northern General where I spent three nights and will be sent home tomorrow. I'm still sore from what has taken place inside but I am filled with gratitude for the efficiency in which this was dealt with. I could never have a bad word to say about the doctors and the NHS. I am eternally grateful. #sorebutstillhere
Eve Anderson
I had a robotic hysterectomy almost 3 weeks ago at the Hallamshire and my recovery has been amazing - the incisions are tiny and I've had almost no pain at all… This machine is incredible!
Angela Fry
I had my bowel cancer removed in December with the robotic surgery at the Hallamshire then transferred back to the NG. Ms Rudge, my surgeon was amazing as were the whole team. Glad the NG now has its own robot.
Julie Shepherd
This is amazing! We as a family are so grateful to Sheffield NGH for their fantastic support in their treatment of my Mam who has recently had to undergo a liver resection then liver ablation due to 2 cancerous tumours. A special mention must go to Dr Shah. His care shown by him to us has been greatly appreciated and we can't thank him enough and all the team really at that hospital for what they've done for my Mam. What a tremendous addition for this fantastic hospital
xx
Michele Critchlow
Had my hysterectomy by this was out of hospital next day I found recovery a lot better no big scar across belly just 5 little scars x
Garry Stones
Had bowel cancer removed seven years ago with robot assisted surgery. Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Thank you Mr Amin and all who looked after me.
Joan Slinn
I had my hysterctomy done using robotic , it was brilliant
Gavin Worley
NGH is my second home and a place that is so close to my heart (quite literally). I had my heart transplant there nearly 27 years ago and still attend regular check-ups at the Chesterman Department. A special place filled with dedicated, hard-working and talented people.
Nebay Gerezgher
Thank you all for working hard unbelievable last year my family was struggling nearly died but safes the life. Now getting better. God help you & bless your work
Loraine White
Dr Bradley did both my husband's open heart surgery bypasses in 2011 and 2016 after being told nothing they could do but he came through for us amazing consultant/surgeon
but now my husband has heart failure stage 4
nothing can be done just medication and still fights on lol ,but the new robot machines will do amazing things to help staff
along the way with lot's of operations well done everyone xx and thank you for giving me more year's with my husband
xxx
How robotic-assisted surgery works
Mr Nehal Shah (left) and Mr Luigi Ventura (right) with the nursing and theatre team at the official unveiling of the new surgical robot at the Northern General Hospital
The advanced surgical system lets surgeons work in hard-to-reach areas using robotic-assisted arms with flexible, tiny wristed instruments and better visualisation via a high-definition 3D view. This magnifies the surgical area being worked on 10 times to what the human eye sees alone - or the equivalent of magnifying a 2p coin to the size of a dinner plate.
The surgical robot is controlled by the surgeon at all times.
This will help provide better outcomes for hundreds of patients in Sheffield and beyond, offering fewer and less invasive incisions, shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery and a return to normal life sooner.
Thank you!
A huge shout-out and thank you to Sheffield Hospitals Charity and their incredible supporters in bringing this life-changing technology to the region.
Beth Crackles, Chief Executive at Sheffield Hospitals Charity said:
"Sheffield Hospitals Charity is proud to have contributed £1.45 million to bring this robot to the Northern General Hospital. It is the largest single donation we have ever made and one that reflects our confidence in the life‑changing impact this technology will have for patients and the NHS.
"Made possible by the generosity of thousands of supporters, this robot is a gamechanger for those undergoing cancer surgery in Sheffield. Moreover, it will enable more people to access minimally invasive surgery closer to home, helping patients recover faster, and return to everyday life sooner.
"It is a powerful example of what can be achieved when a community comes together to support its NHS."
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