At Holyrood I met with Mr Campbell Roxburgh, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at the University of Glasgow to discuss robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) and attempt a simulated training exercise.
RAS is a form of minimally-invasive surgery that provides surgeons with enhanced visualisation, dexterity and precision across a range of surgical specialties, including urology, gynaecology, colorectal, thoracic or general surgery.
Last year, the SNP Government provided £20 million to NHS Scotland to install 11 additional RAS systems across the country to reduce open surgery, inequalities of access and increase efficiency. Scotland now has 15 RAS systems.
So far, Intuitive – the company that develops RAS - has provided technology training to 60 surgeons, and last November they opened a surgical robotics training centre at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
I will speak to Scottish Ministers to seek an increased number of RAS systems and extend it to NHS Ayrshire & Arran so that my constituents may also benefit from this technology without having to travel to Glasgow.
ENDS
