The £2m robot now performing surgery in Cornwall

It was trained in Belgium, cost £2 million, and can reach parts of the body a surgeon’s hand cannot. On Monday it treated its first ever patient in Cornwall.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has carried out its first procedure using Cornwall’s first-ever soft tissue robotic surgical system. The trust is calling it a major milestone for patient care in the county, and the result of years of planning, investment and specialist training.

What the robot can do

The system lets surgeons operate with more precision in small, difficult-to-reach areas of the body. It’s expected to help patients being treated for a range of conditions, including cancers of the digestive and urinary systems, endometriosis and some metabolic conditions.

The first procedure took place on Monday 6 July.

James Clark, Divisional Chair for Surgery and Lead for the Soft Tissue Robotic Surgical Programme, said the arrival of the technology changes what the trust can offer.

“This is a milestone for Cornwall and fantastic for patients that we are able to offer the quality of the best robotic surgery locally, rather than them having to travel out of county,” he said.

“As a team we have been training at a world-class centre in Belgium to hone our skills. Whilst the operation itself is the same, the dexterity the robot offers is far above what a human hand can attain. With improved vision and enhanced capabilities, we expect to see patients recover more quickly and to be able to offer procedures that we’ve previously not be able to do in Cornwall.”

How it was paid for

The system was made possible through £2 million of NHS England funding. That came alongside support from local communities, Rotary Clubs across Cornwall, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity, and the fundraisers and campaigners who pushed for the technology to come to the county.

Hundreds of patients are expected to benefit from robotic-assisted surgery in the years ahead.

📷J Clark robotic surgery 06.07.2026

📷J Clark robotic surgery 06.07.2026