New £2 million robot set to cut cancer patients waiting times in Sunderland

Meet DaVinci Xi, the £2 million robot proving a “game changer” for surgeons as they work to save the lives of urgent cancer patients.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The technology is carrying out faster and more precise surgery at Sunderland Royal Hospital and its credited with helping dramatically reduce waiting times and the length of hospital stays.

The kit joins an existing robot at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and is helping it exceed national targets for cancer treatments.

Read More
Covid-19 vaccine’s safety to be taken ‘very seriously’ by regulators
Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan with clinical director of urology Stuart McCracken and the cancer treatment surgical robot, The DaVinci Xi at Sunderland Royal Hospital.Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan with clinical director of urology Stuart McCracken and the cancer treatment surgical robot, The DaVinci Xi at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan with clinical director of urology Stuart McCracken and the cancer treatment surgical robot, The DaVinci Xi at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

The new recruit is helping surgeons perform life-saving laparoscopic surgery – which uses just small incisions – on patients with prostate, bladder, kidney, bowel and oral cancers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sitting at a master control console, the surgeon controls its arms, equipped with jointed ‘wrists’, which exceed the range of motion of the human hand, also reducing tremor.

The technology drastically improves on conventional keyhole surgery by reducing pain and recovery times, less need for blood transfusions and fewer complications.

Kanagasabai Sahadevan, a consultant urological surgeon, set up the service with colleagues and had to undertake rigorous training to operate the robot.

Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan had to undergo specialist training before carrying out surgery with the £2 million robot.Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan had to undergo specialist training before carrying out surgery with the £2 million robot.
Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan had to undergo specialist training before carrying out surgery with the £2 million robot.

He said: “Robotic surgery is a game changer and allows us to provide life-saving treatment to thousands of cancer patients.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"With two robotic systems in place we are able to perform even more cancer operations – quicker than we ever have before.

“We can now operate on patients who before would have been seen as too risky for open surgery as the robot allows us to perform minimally invasive procedures.

Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan, directorate manager urology Jessica Hutchings and clinical director of urology Stuart McCracken.Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan, directorate manager urology Jessica Hutchings and clinical director of urology Stuart McCracken.
Urology consultant cancer lead Kanagasabai Sahadevan, directorate manager urology Jessica Hutchings and clinical director of urology Stuart McCracken.

"Our robotic bladder cancer programme has one of the shortest hospital stays in the country.

“We are very proud to offer world class robotic surgery right here in Sunderland and we want to remain at the forefront of advances in technology so that we can continue to provide the best care to our patients.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The trusts says robotic surgery has made a major contribution to improving the quality of services and care to patients, with its surgeons carrying out more than 1,300 procedures since 2013.

It added despite the challenges of Covid-19, 86% of patients received urology treatment within the recommended 62 days in August.

The data for September shows it is the best performing trust in the Northern Cancer Alliance region for urgent GP referrals for suspected cancers, with 94.54% seen within two weeks of seeing their GP.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news, information and puzzles online. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. SImply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu.