The two Da Vinci Xi surgical robots helped complete 25 procedures at Southmead Hospital in Bristol during the weekend of 30 November to 1 December.

Dr Jessica Preshaw, consultant gynaecological surgeon at NBT, said: ‘This was a phenomenal achievement for the team who worked so hard and seamlessly, and would not have been possible without the use of robotic technology. 

‘We are so fortunate to work with such an amazing team of surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and other healthcare professionals and I want to thank everyone who took part during the weekend.'

Of the patients operated on, 16 were able to go home on the same day. Procedures performed were mainly hysterectomies and endometriosis-related surgeries.

As well as a shorter operating time, using a surgical robot provides surgeons with better precision and accuracy during operations. 

When compared with standard keyhole or open surgery approaches, robotic-assisted surgery offers patients minimally-invasive procedures with a shorter recovery time.