The new training facility in Winnersh Triangle, Reading, has capacity to provide technology training for da Vinci surgical systems to thousands more surgeons.

The 21,000sq ft site, which triples Intuitive's local footprint, will host the latest Intuitive technology including the da Vinci 5, Xi and SP Surgical Systems, and the Ion endoluminal system.   

Intuitive's Global Professional Education & Program Services portfolio is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, with more than 1,300 surgeons in the UK and Ireland trained to use da Vinci surgical systems.

David Marante, vice-president of Intuitive UK & Ireland, said: ‘Now, with our new expanded regional headquarters and training centre, we're committing to the future - to expand equity of access for patients to quality, minimally invasive care with da Vinci and Ion systems, and to continue meeting the needs of care teams, hospitals and the NHS.

‘The UK Government has made clear its commitment for more patients to benefit from robotic-assisted surgery. We're here to help it deliver.'

Lord Ara Darzi performed the UK's first da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery procedure in 2000. Now, in the UK and Ireland, more than 300,000 patients have benefitted from da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery and over 200 da Vinci surgical systems are used in hospitals across a range of surgical specialties.

Health innovation minister, Dr Zubir Ahmed, said: ‘As an NHS surgeon and someone who performed robotic surgery early in its evolution, I know first-hand the potential of robot surgical systems like these.

‘This new training centre will benefit thousands more surgeons and their patients, as we shift healthcare from analogue to digital and build an NHS that is fit for the future.'

Dr Myriam Curet, Intuitive executive vice-president and chief medical officer, said: ‘As access to minimally invasive care continues to grow, we're deepening our roots in Europe to continue supporting successful da Vinci and Ion programmes now and into the future.'

Intuitive has over 120 employees in the UK and Ireland, including commercial, clinical affairs, training and enabling functions, and has tripled its training personnel as part of the expansion.