The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first hospital worldwide to own a surgical robot dedicated exclusively to paediatric care. The Versius Plus robot, acquired thanks to a generous £1.5 million donation from the Coldstones Charitable Trust, will revolutionise surgical procedures for young patients.
Precision and Reduced Recovery Times
The advanced robot assists surgeons during keyhole surgery, offering enhanced access and precision for complex operations. It will be used in a range of paediatric procedures, including those for cancer, urology, abdominal, thoracic, and gastrointestinal conditions. According to doctors at the hospital, the robot not only improves surgical accuracy but also reduces pain, minimises scarring, and helps children return to their normal lives more quickly.
Consultant paediatric surgeon Michael Jacovides, who leads the robotic surgery programme, expressed his enthusiasm: "Robotic assisted surgery will increasingly be part of caring for children in the future, and I am excited it is already here for the children of Glasgow. We are developing our service to cover more conditions and to offer it to more children and babies across Scotland. We owe the presence of the robot to our charity and our sponsor. We are proud to have established Glasgow as a leader in this field, and we are working with partners nationally and internationally so these technologies become more widely used."
Evaluation and Future Expansion
Before the official launch, the hospital conducted an evaluation phase in which surgeons performed over 30 procedures using the robot. Although some paediatric patients elsewhere have benefited from shared systems in larger adult hospitals, Glasgow is believed to be the first dedicated children's hospital in the world to purchase and own such a system solely for paediatric use. The first case of a child in the UK undergoing surgery with Versius occurred in 2024, following several adult surgeries.
Kirsten Watson, chief executive of Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, praised the donation: "This extraordinary donation from the Coldstones Charitable Trust is enabling something genuinely pioneering for children's healthcare. By funding the purchase of the Versius Plus system, they are helping establish a world-first dedicated paediatric programme based around this technology."
The Coldstones Charitable Trust, which provides financial support to various charitable organisations, has once again demonstrated its commitment to advancing healthcare. This initiative not only positions Glasgow as a pioneer in paediatric robotic surgery but also promises to bring cutting-edge treatment to children across Scotland and beyond.
