The North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has carried out its first robotic-assisted surgeries at Cumberland Infirmary using the da Vinci Xi system.
Mr Chris Rao, colorectal consultant and general surgeon, led the initial case. Procedures took place in the weeks before mid-July 2026. The system, nicknamed Sirona after a staff competition, delivers magnified three-dimensional vision and instrument movements that allow surgeons to minimise tissue trauma.
These capabilities produce reduced pain, fewer complications and quicker recovery times compared with traditional open or laparoscopic methods. Lee Ellis, a 43-year-old patient from Carlisle who underwent robotic-assisted gall bladder removal, described neater scars and a quicker return to normal activity than in his previous operations.
Teams completed more than 30 hours of digital simulation training together with specialist external courses. Theatre and anaesthetic staff undertook simulation exercises, online modules and observational visits to established robotic centres. Initial operations occurred under the direct supervision of experienced external surgeons to secure safe introduction.
This is a hugely exciting step for NCIC and something our teams have worked incredibly hard to bring to life. Robotic-assisted surgery allows us to operate with a level of precision that simply isn’t possible with traditional techniques. That means less pain, fewer complications, and quicker recovery for our patients. I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved in getting us to this point, and I’m delighted that patients in Cumbria can now benefit from this state-of-the-art technology.
The trust intends to install a second robotic system at West Cumberland Hospital in the near term. Over the coming decade it plans to broaden the programme across additional specialties. Expansion aims to improve local patient access, aid staff recruitment and retention, and create further training opportunities.
Ministers have set an ambition for NHS trusts to conduct 90 per cent of suitable key-hole surgery with robotic assistance by 2035. The arrival of Sirona at Cumberland Infirmary demonstrates how targeted investment in engineering tools can deliver measurable gains in surgical outcomes without reliance on expansive administrative directives.
