Robot tech first for Harley Street Medical Area

King Edward VII’s Hospital has become the first hospital in the Harley Street Medical Area to introduce the latest da Vinci surgical system, the da Vinci Xi robot. As well as offering increased flexibility and versatility, the system provides multi-quadrant anatomical access, increasing the range in which surgeons can operate and creating room for more complex and challenging procedures. 

Designed with enhanced ergonomics and precision, the da Vinci Xi robot is at the forefront of surgical technology, with novel architecture, extended instrument reach and integrated auxiliary technology.

Kate Farrow, director of operations at King Edward VII’s Hospital, said: “We chose the Xi as we are committed to providing the highest standards of treatment available, and it is the currently the most technologically advanced robotic system. It allows the surgeon to operate on multi-quadrants, meaning that a wider range of complex procedures can be done. We look forward to expanding our robotic programme to include colorectal, general and gynaecological surgery.”

New range of services
With the addition of its new robotic technology, the hospital has also recently announced a new range of services to provide diagnostics and treatment for a variety of conditions and urological disorders, including pelvic reconstruction, erectile dysfunction, female urology, urinary incontinence, female functional urological reconstruction, kidney stones, male infertility, and prostate, bladder and kidney cancer.

Focal therapy is one of the new services offered at King Edward VII’s Hospital for treating prostate cancer, using high intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) or electroporation (Nanoknife). This minimally-invasive treatment is offered to men who have medium (intermediate) risk prostate cancer. The side effects of this type of treatment, which treats only the cancer and a small area around it, are rendered much less than those for traditional prostate cancer surgery or radiotherapy

Expanded urology team
The hospital has also expanded their team of leading urology specialists with the appointment of new consultants, including Professor Caroline Moore (the first woman in the UK to be a professor of urology), Professor Mark Emberton, Mrs Sian Allen and Mr Paul Cathcart.

Lindsey Condron, chief executive, added: “We are committed to providing the best care to our patients and having expanded our urology team, we are in a position to offer a complete range of urological services. Our ambition is to be the leading independent urological centre in the UK.”