NNUH doubles robotic surgery capacity thanks to community support

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has doubled its robotic-assisted surgery capacity with the arrival of two new da Vinci robots.

The two da Vinci Surgical Robotic systems have been purchased and delivered as part of the Trust’s programme to grow its capacity as a leading robotic surgery centre and maintain its position at the forefront of surgical innovation.

The purchase forms part of the £3.2m Robotic Surgery grant from the N&N Hospitals Charity – thanks to gifts in wills and donations from the local community.

The two new robots are located within the Day Procedure Unit (DPU) Theatres 5 and 6 and became operational on Monday 19 January with the first procedures utilising the new surgical systems.

These new robots double the Trust’s current robotic surgery capacity to a total of four surgical robots, meaning NNUH has the joint-most surgical robots on a single site in the East of England. This advanced technology enables complex procedures to be completed with greater ease, reduces recovery times and minimises the risk of complications. It will also further enhance the surgical education programme with resident doctors gaining access to the latest technologies in theatre.

James Hernon, NNUH Consultant Surgeon and Associate Clinical Director, said: “Robotic-assisted surgery is fast becoming the future of surgical practice and this development helps to establish ourselves as a leading centre across a range of surgical specialities. It also cements our ambition to become a leading training and education centre in this field of surgery in collaboration with the University of East Anglia.”

2026 also marks the 10-year anniversary of robotic surgery at NNUH.

The N&N Hospitals Charity previously supported the purchase of the Trust’s second surgical robot with a £1m grant in 2019/20 and continues to fund the current and future needs of the robotic surgery programme

N&N Hospitals Charity Director Rachel Backshall said: “Every gift to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity is an investment in a future where patients receive world-class care here in Norfolk. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our community, primarily through gifts in wills, we have already raised £2.8 million to fund two surgical robots that are transforming lives by improving outcomes and reducing recovery times. But we are not stopping there; our vision is to reach £3.2 million and secure a third robot, giving even more patients access to cutting-edge treatment and faster recovery.

This investment illustrates the power of people coming together to change healthcare for generations to come. Every donation, every act of support, brings the Charity closer to making it a reality so please contact us at charity@nnuh.nhs.uk  if you can help in any way.”

Contribute or fundraise via the N&N Hospitals Charity’s JustGiving Page