Trust aims to treat more patients with robot-assisted technology
1,500 robot-assisted procedures completed in major milestone
Hospitals in Northamptonshire are planning to expand their use of robotic-assisted surgery after completing more than 1,500 procedures since the technology was introduced in 2022.
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) has used the technology for a range of cancer treatments, including colorectal, urological, head and neck and gynaecological operations. The first robotic surgery took place at Northampton General Hospital in March 2022, with a second system introduced at Kettering General Hospital in August 2025.
Robotic-assisted surgery involves a surgeon controlling a sophisticated surgical system fitted with multiple robotic arms.
UHN’s Robotic Surgery Lead, Mr Jamil Ahmed, who leads the robotic surgery programme across both sites, said the technology is already improving outcomes for patients.
He described the robot as “a tool which is used to assist surgery”.
“It helps to improve our precision… it has a few components… one of them is a console where the surgeon sits and there are some arms attached to the patient,” he said.
“The arm works with the movement of the surgeon… it gives a 3D view, a very precise view, and it helps to perform surgery with a better understanding of the area of the operation.”
Mr Ahmed said the technology is particularly valuable in parts of the body that are difficult to access with traditional techniques. He explained: “Its role is more important… where there are small cavities like a pelvis, like a back of the throat or abdominal cavity.”
He said the benefits for patients were significant, particularly in terms of recovery.
“Patients are in less pain… we are able to make smaller incision compared to the open surgery, which translates into the benefit of early recovery,”
Mr Ahmed added that robotic-assisted procedures can reduce complications more commonly associated with traditional surgery.
“When you perform surgery with open technique, the patient will have more risks… and similarly, if you make a cut, there is an increased risk of hernias.” he said.
He emphasised that the robot does not act independently and is fully controlled by the surgeon.
“One thing is very important to realize that robot is not autonomous.''
“Whatever surgeon is performing is controlled by the surgeon… it’s just merely a tool which helps us to perform surgery better.” He added.
Strict safeguards are in place to ensure patient safety, including extensive staff training before surgeons use the technology.
“They staff learn in a lab situation… once they are very safe… there is an experienced robotic surgeon with them… ensuring that their start is smooth and patient safety is completely secured.” Mr Ahmed explained.
He also highlighted benefits for surgical teams, including improved working conditions.
“In the robotic surgery, everything you control yourself… it’s very ergonomically very better for a surgeon.”
He described the 1,500 operations milestone as significant but said demand for the technology continues to grow. “The idea for us is to expand our service… to provide robotic assisted surgery… to more people,”
However, he said funding remains a challenge to wider rollout across the NHS. “One of the things… across the NHS we struggle is getting enough funding to get the state-of-the-art system in place.
“We are hoping that we establish a case where we can get the new systems… and that’s one of the challenges which remains there.”