Glasgow children’s hospital begins robot-assisted surgery

The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow has begun robot-assisted surgery for children, becoming the first dedicated children’s hospital in the world to own a surgical robot exclusively for paediatric patients, the BBC reports.

The hospital is using the Versius Plus system, purchased with more than £1.5 million pledged by the Coldstones Charitable Trust to Hi Scotland, the innovation arm of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. It can assist with keyhole operations for complex cancer, urological, abdominal, thoracic and gastrointestinal conditions.

Surgeons completed more than 30 procedures with the robot during an evaluation phase. The BBC says some children elsewhere can access robotic surgery through shared systems or equipment in larger adult hospitals, but Glasgow is believed to be the first dedicated children’s hospital to buy and own a system solely for paediatric use.

Doctors at the hospital say the technology can improve precision and access during keyhole surgery, potentially reducing pain and scarring and helping patients return to everyday life sooner. Those are expected benefits; the BBC report does not give comparative outcome figures.

Michael Jacovides, the programme’s clinical lead and a consultant paediatric surgeon, said the hospital was developing the service to cover more conditions and reach more children and babies across Scotland. The first child in the UK to have surgery using a Versius robot was treated in 2024, after the system had been used in several adult operations.