NHS South West surpasses 1 million elective operations in one year
Hospitals harness AI and robotics to transform wait times and productivity
Hospitals in the South West have achieved a significant milestone by carrying out over one million elective procedures in 2025.
Recent data indicates a substantial increase in day-case treatments, which allows patients to return home the same day without an overnight stay.
The number of day-case procedures rose by almost 20%, totalling 854,000 in 2025 compared to 2019.
These improvements are primarily attributed to the introduction of theatre scheduling software, use of the NHS app for appointment scheduling, remote patient monitoring, and surgical robotics.
"It's fantastic to break the million mark for treating people on waiting lists," said Dr Trevor Smith, Regional Medical Director for NHS England in the South West.
"Staff have been working really hard to get us back to where we were before Covid, while at the same time we’ve been introducing new systems and technologies to make the most of our capacity."
Using Robots to Improve Surgery
Advancements in robotic surgery have enhanced surgical outcomes and increased operation numbers through quicker recoveries.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has implemented precision robotic surgery techniques, including Aquablation therapy for prostate issues.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust employs a robotic navigation unit to reduce time and risk in spinal surgeries.
Using AI to Reduce Admin Duties for Clinical Staff
AI notetaking tools have been introduced to reduce the administrative burden on clinical staff and improve the focus on patient care, thereby increasing patient satisfaction.
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust piloted this ‘ambient voice technology’ in 2,700 consultations last year, enabling addition of 15,000 appointments annually when fully deployed.