The arrival of the DV5 robot at Watford General Hospital could lead to another 200 operations a year and will free up an existing system to be moved to St Albans City Hospital to treat day cases like hernias and gall bladder removals in high volumes.

Dr Vanash Patel, a colorectal surgeon and leader of the trust's robotic programme, said: ‘This new system will support faster patient recovery, increase the number of operations we carry out and lead to fewer complications. That's fantastic news for patients and the surgeons caring for them.'

The trust, which serves a population of over 600,000, is also believed to be the first in the country to be investing in a robotic surgery system solely for its emergency department (ED).

The innovation will help ensure patients for example who are treated in ED for bowel cancer at short notice can benefit from the same robotic surgery as those who have diagnosed early, with a planned schedule of treatment.