Blackrock Health, combining Hermitage, Blackrock, Galway and Limerick Clinic, has reached a milestone in surgical care with over four thousand robotic-assisted surgeries completed across the group using the da Vinci surgical system, developed by Intuitive.
When utilised by expert surgeons, the da Vinci system offers the surgeon greater precision, increased dexterity of instrument motions and improved vision. For patients, use of the system may result in reduced operative risk, reduced operation times, reduced post-operative pain and earlier recovery. Encouraging a more positive post-surgical life, the da Vinci surgical system allows for smaller incisions with less blood loss, pain and scarring.
The first robotic-assisted surgical procedure in Ireland was performed in Galway Clinic in 2006. Since then, over four thousand robotic-assisted surgeries have been performed across the group and the use of the da Vinci surgical system has expanded with higher volumes of surgeons receiving training on the innovative technology. The robotic system is used in urology, colorectal, bariatric, gynaecology and thoracic surgery.
CEO of Blackrock Health, Dr Caroline Whelan, commented: "I am delighted to mark this impressive milestone with over four thousand robotic-assisted surgeries carried out across our hospitals. At Blackrock Health, our teams are committed to being at the forefront of technology to provide optimal patient experience and deliver best in class patient outcomes."
David Marante, Vice President of Intuitive UK and Ireland, said: “We’d like to congratulate the teams across Blackrock Health for completing their 4,000th da Vinci procedure. It has been a privilege to support the surgeons and care teams to provide da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery as part of their patient care offerings so that more patients can access the value of minimally invasive surgery.”