A Renfrewshire man has become one of the first patients to undergo robotic-assisted surgery at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) expands access to minimally invasive procedures.
William Gillespie, 83, from Elderslie, had a bowel tumour successfully removed using the da Vinci Xi surgical system at the RAH on 30 April.
It follows the introduction of the technology at the Paisley hospital – the first time a surgical robot has been used at the site – bringing state-of-the-art care closer to home for patients across Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire.
The development is part of a wider expansion of robotic-assisted surgery across NHSGGC, with dedicated systems already in place at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI).
The health board has now surpassed 5,000 robotic-assisted procedures, underlining the growing role of this technology in patient care.
The expansion has been supported by investment in a new dual console da Vinci Xi system at the QEUH, which has doubled colorectal cancer surgery capacity there and allowed an existing system to be transferred to the RAH.
This followed a generous donation of £800,000 from a former patient and his wife, who wish to remain anonymous, and a further £400,000 contributed by the Beatson Cancer Charity.
Robotic-assisted surgery enables surgeons to carry out complex procedures through small incisions, offering patients benefits including quicker recovery, reduced pain, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.
In the lead-up to his operation, Mr Gillespie attended the RAH’s ‘prehab to rehab’ Apple Clinic, where patients receive support to improve their fitness ahead of treatment.
The clinic, led by physiotherapists Mhairi Burke, Elaine Crookston and Gerard Church, and specialist nurses Amy Lewis and Maggie Clark, offers exercise sessions and advice on healthy eating and stopping smoking, helping ensure patients are in the best possible condition for surgery.
Speaking about his experience, Mr Gillespie said: “I was really pleased to be able to have my operation here at the RAH, which is my local hospital. It made a big difference not having to travel further afield.
“It also helped my family, as it was much easier for them to get in to see me and support me while I was in hospital.
“The surgery itself was very straightforward from my point of view, and I’ve felt the benefit of it being less invasive, getting out of hospital much sooner than if it was an open procedure and with less complications.
“Knowing that they can do this kind of procedure with smaller incisions and a quicker recovery is very reassuring.”
Professor Susan Moug, Consultant Surgeon at the RAH, said the introduction of robotic-assisted surgery at the hospital marked a major step forward for local services.
She said: “Having a robotic-assisted surgical system at the RAH for the first time is transformational for patients in our local communities.
“It allows us to provide high-quality, minimally invasive surgery closer to home, reducing the need for patients to travel while continuing to improve outcomes and recovery times.”
The expansion of robotic-assisted surgery across NHSGGC is helping to ensure more patients can benefit from advanced surgical techniques, while supporting the health board’s wider aim of improving access and delivering high-quality care closer to home.
