A northeast hospital is celebrating a decade of delivering revolutionary robotic surgeries that have been at the forefront of helping women access faster, safer and less invasive treatment for complex cancer conditions.
Gynaecological surgeons from The James Cook University Hospital have reached the milestone of performing more than 1,000 robotic surgeries – since marking its first procedure in 2015.
The da Vinci X and Xi are state-of-the-art robotic-assisted equipment making a vital difference in the lives of women suffering from complex cancer conditions.
Robotic-assisted surgery is an advanced technique where complex gynae cancer surgeries are performed through a keyhole approach.
The operation involves a computer-assisted interface where surgeons control fine instruments to perform a complex surgery.
This includes treating women suffering from intricate gynaecological cancer conditions, including ovarian and uterine cancers that would have been nearly impossible without the support of robotic-led technology.
The adoption of robotic technology means more hospital beds are now available, with the majority of patients being discharged the day after surgery.
This also means there is more money to deliver further enhanced care whilst reducing waiting lists.
Prior to this technique, the majority of the gynae cancer surgeries involved a very large incision being made to the abdomen to remove cancerous tumours – leading to longer hospital stays, large amounts of blood loss, slower recovery rate and a higher risk for infections.
Annalisa Perry and Sue Jeffrey, two of the patients who recently underwent major surgeries to remove cancerous tumours, felt nearly nothing and were discharged the next day.
“Felt amazing to go home the very next day after a major surgery”
Retired council leader, Sue Jeffrey found a large lump in her abdomen prior to Christmas in 2024.
She was quite worried about the lump due to being diagnosed with breast cancer in the past. As a result, a robotic-assisted gynae surgery was performed to remove her cyst and she had to undergo hysterectomy and appendectomy – which was essential to treat her ovarian tumour.
She said: “I was unsure about what robotic surgery was at first but not worried at all because it was all explained very clearly, and it was great to hear that the recovery would be faster as a result.”
Sue was discharged from the hospital the next morning and was surprised by the outcome.
“It felt amazing to go home the very next day after a major surgery. There were no big dressings or stitches but just five tiny incisions that were sealed with glue. I felt like I knew what to expect and wasn’t worried about anything particularly, if there were problems, I knew I could contact my GP or the 111 service,” she added.
Sue believes the robotic surgery aided her in recouping from her surgery faster while helping her to continue her recovery from the comfort of her home.
Talking about her experience at James Cook, Sue said:
The care I have received was brilliant, it’s great to know that we have such amazing technology, great facilities and expert staff on hand when needed and I would like to say a huge thank you to all involved.”
“No pain after surgery”
Retired chef, Annalisa Perry had atypical endometrial hyperplasia since 2020, which is a precancerous condition.
In March 2025, she had an endometrial biopsy, a procedure to detect endometrial cancer or hyperplasia – where the medical team found out she had cancer.
This prompted surgical teams to perform a robotic-assisted gynae surgery on Annalisa to remove her cancerous tumour.
Annalisa, who was discharged from the hospital the following morning, said: “The robotic surgery made a huge difference to my recovery. To be honest, I felt no pain on the day of the surgery or after the procedure – it was just like a normal day which is quite shocking considering I went through a major surgery.
“It is very hard to believe.”
While not only commending the entire process of removing a tumour painlessly, she also feels that the robotic technology will help save beds for the NHS and treat more patients.
“This would get more patients to get back to their families within the next day instead of spending countless days in a hospital,” she added.
Analogue to Digital: NHS Fit for Future Plan
The NHS 10 Year Health Plan sets out a clear ambition to move from analogue to digital, using technology to deliver faster, safer, and more precise care.
Expanding the use of digital tools like surgical robotics at University Hospitals Tees is a key part of that shift, helping to modernise services, improve outcomes, and reduce variation across the country.
Consultant gynaecologic oncologist Anupama Rajan Babu said: “Robotic surgery allows us to treat complex cancer patients with greater precision, while offering them faster healing and recovery.
Most patients return to their normal routines much sooner than with traditional open surgery. Compared to open procedures, robotic surgery also results in a cost saving of approximately £5,000 per patient.
“Importantly, it helps free up much-needed hospital beds, allowing us to care for more patients in need and reducing waiting time.”