S T A R - Surgical Theatre Appeal for Robotics
An Advanced Technology Operating Theatre For Children
In past decades our solution for the problem of the expanding demand for paediatric surgery has been to increase our number of specialist surgeons and to provide additional teams of skilled support staff. Without doubt, such responses will continue to be part of the solution for the foreseeable future.
Advances in the design of surgical equipment in the new millennium have transformed the prospects for complex procedures through the techniques of ‘keyhole surgery’ - robotic surgery.
The advantages of robotic surgery are significant:
- The surgeon’s skills can be applied more accurately and with less intrusion.
- Infection risks are reduced.
- Patients’ in-hospital stays are reduced.
- Theatre times can be reduced by more than 50%for most operations.
The term ‘robotic’ does not imply that the surgeon becomes a detached observer of a purely machine driven procedure. On the contrary, every part of the process is directly carried out by the surgeon through the use of manual controls. These equip the surgeon with a level of precision which is beyond the scope of traditional operating methods.
DA VINCI S4 Model
In the field of surgical robotics, the four-armed Da Vinci S4 model is the acknowledged leader, selected by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for our first high technology paediatric theatre. This is the central item within an installation of advanced equipment. From his or her position at the Da Vinci console, the surgeon controls every procedure.
Da Vinci models are manufactured by Intuitive Surgical International of Sunnyvale, California. Worldwide, at the time of publishing this brochure, more than 890 of these US manufactured Da Vinci models have been installed since 2002. Here is a sample of the uptake on a country-by-country basis:
| Country | Installations |
| USA | 610 |
| Netherlands | 33 |
| France | 27 |
| Germany | 22 |
| UK | *10 |
*4 of these are NHS and 1 only is paediatric.
The planned installation at Chelsea andWestminster Hospital is likely to be the first Da Vinci machine in Southern England exclusively dedicated to paediatric surgery. Britain’s first dedicated paediatric Da Vinci installation is at St. James’ Hospital, Leeds. There are negotiations in progress for an installation in Edinburgh.
How much is the NHS contributing?
In round figures, £500,000. This will be the construction cost of the new theatre.
NHS funds have contributed massively towards the development of all child health services at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in recent years. We very much hope that these existing commitments will be appreciated by those whom we ask to support us.
NHS funds, as we all know, are limited. From time to time they need to be complemented by gifts and grants from other sources in order to ensure that our services continue at their present high standard.
Since the late 1990s, NHS funds have provided us with:
- Our two present operating theatres, with full staffing.
- An increase in children’s nursing staff from 30 to 50.
- 3 neonatologists.
- An increase in paediatric surgeons from 2 to 6 since 1994.
The total cost of these and other developments is already over £4million. In addition, as stated above, all of the structural costs of our new children’s operating theatre will be met from NHS budgets.
Furthermore, the salary and running costs of the new theatre will be met in full from NHS funds, including the additional staff posts required.
We would be most grateful if you could help us to contribute the equipment costs of this major enhancement of the paediatric surgical provision across the South of England and West London.