Surgeons at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have completed the 100th surgical procedure using the cutting-edge robotic-assisted da Vinci 5 surgical system, marking a major milestone less than six months after it became the first NHS trust in the UK to introduce the new technology.
The robotic-assisted surgical system, based at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, brings significant technological advances to improve patient outcomes, reduce recovery times, lower complication risk, and allow greater consistency in minimally invasive procedures. It is already supporting a growing range of specialties including gynaecology, hepatobiliary surgery and general surgery.
Surgeons operating at Hampshire Hospitals are the first in the UK to use this new generation surgical robot, which is the most advanced and integrated da Vinci system available. 
The milestone strengthens Hampshire Hospitals’ long-term vision to expand robotic-assisted surgery and aligns with the government’s wider 10 Year Health Plan and strategy to increase access to minimally invasive care across the NHS.
Shaun Carr, Operations Director, and Tim Moore, Medical Director at Hampshire Hospitals, said: “Reaching our 100th procedure with the da Vinci 5 system demonstrates how quickly this technology has become a part of our everyday surgical practice across a number of specialties. We are already seeing how it is improving outcomes for our patients and we are immensely proud of our teams who are delivering exceptional care using this innovative technology.”
Pulkit Sethi, Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgeon, who performed the trust’s first da Vinci 5 cases, added: “It is a major technical milestone and an encouraging moment for our surgical team. We have also successfully introduced robotic-assisted surgery for cancer patients, expanding access to advanced minimally invasive treatment locally. With the 3D vision, superior instrument dexterity, and precise dissection in complex cases, we’re already observing reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery, representing a significant step forward in the care we provide.”
The da Vinci 5 system was purchased following a major charitable fundraising collaboration between Hampshire Hospitals Charity and the Hampshire Medical Fund.
Mark Hainy, Head of Charity at Hampshire Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to every single donor whose generosity made the acquisition of our state‑of‑the‑art surgical system possible. Today, as we celebrate more than 100 patients treated, we’re seeing the true impact of your support.
“This technology is empowering our surgeons to perform more procedures each day with even greater precision, and it’s helping our patients recover faster than ever before. Your kindness is transforming care in our hospitals, and we cannot thank you enough for making this milestone, and many more to come, a reality.”
