Robotic-assisted surgery launched at GHA; five operations carried out so far

Robotic-assisted surgery has been introduced at the Health Authority, with five operations already carried out using the new equipment.

The GHA says the technology allows for greater precision and flexibility - and in future, could even see telesurgery performed remotely from another country.

The GHA has launched its new robotic surgery suite.

It has already been used for five hernia operations - with plans to expand its use in more complex areas: urological, gynaecological, colorectal and upper gastrointestinal.  

The aim is also to be able to use the equipment for remote telesurgery in future - meaning that you may one day be able to have an operation in Gibraltar, carried out remotely by a specialist surgeon elsewhere.

The GHA says the new technology is being introduced slowly, safely, carefully and effectively, with surgeons undergoing training to use the new equipment.

The suite has been installed in collaboration with the medical technology developer MicroPort, and with the help of donations from the Kusuma Trust and Prostate Cancer Gibraltar.

The Government says the robotic surgery suite symbolises the GHA's direction of travel: which it says is "modern, ambitious, and focused on delivering better care for patients here in Gibraltar".