Publish date: 30 September 2026
Blackpool Victoria Hospital is celebrating 90 years since the first patient was admitted to the hospital’s current site, by introducing its latest innovation – a state-of-the-art surgical robot.
The first patient arrived at the hospital on East Park Drive on 29 September 1936, before the site was officially opened by the Duke of Kent the following year. At the time, the NHS was still 12 years away from being established.
Exactly 90 years later, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals is one of the first NHS Trusts in the country to install the dual-console da Vinci 5 Surgical System - one of the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical systems currently available to the NHS.
Robotic-assisted surgery is a form of minimally invasive care. The surgeon controls instruments attached to the system’s robotic arms while viewing a highly magnified, three-dimensional image of the operating area. This allows delicate and complex procedures to be carried out with a high degree of precision and control.
The Trust took delivery of the machine, which is in three main parts, a console for the surgeon to sit at, the instrument section that is controlled from the console, and a tower with all the computing power, in April this year before training and testing. It has been supporting thoracic, colorectal, gynaecology and urology surgical procedures since June.
Mr Ali Khan, Cardiothoracic Consultant, at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals said: “Robotic-assisted surgery enables our surgeons to perform delicate and complex procedures with greater precision, using advanced instruments and a magnified 3D view of the operating area.
“It’s easy to manipulate surgical instruments and it gives much greater dexterity. It’s really helpful for surgeons, making the process much more ergonomic for them and allowing for the instruments to be manipulated in ways a surgeon simply couldn’t do using other minimally invasive techniques.”
For patients, robotic-assisted surgery can mean smaller incisions, less pain, a reduced risk of complications and a shorter recovery period, helping some people return home and resume their usual activities sooner.
The first patient was operated on in June this year and instead of the expected eight-day recovery period the patient was discharged after just six. Others have been as early as three days.
One patient who has been operated on using the machine, Gwen Easton, said: “I was told I needed surgery on my lungs earlier this year. I looked into the details of the surgery and online it said it could be three-month recovery. Mr Khan explained more and said there was a chance of robot assisted surgery which would be three days in hospital and six-week recovery which was fantastic news.
"I went in to hospital on a Tuesday, was home by Friday teatime and on the Saturday, I went out to walk the dog. Two weeks later I was doing Pilates. It was just incredible.
“Mr Khan’s clinic is full of people of a ‘certain age’ who’s skin doesn’t bounce back and heal like it does in your twenties so to bring the recovery down by so much is amazing.
“I’m so glad to have this in Blackpool. It’s not available to everyone as it’s only used on certain patients, but I am so lucky that I was one of them. It’s fantastic.”
Dr Neil Hartley-Smith, Chief Medical Officer at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, said:
“This is a transformational moment for our surgical theatres and our local community. Blackpool is leading the way with this technology. It will give our surgeons the chance to train on one of the most advanced systems available and we’re delighted colleagues will have this opportunity which will bring real benefits for our patients.”
“For patients, this can mean smaller incisions, less pain, fewer complications and a quicker recovery. It is fitting that, as we celebrate our history, we are also looking ahead at how innovation can improve care for future generations of patients.”
The investment was funded by the NHS, via the Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance. Introducing robotic-assisted surgical systems is part of the NHS drive to cut waiting times.
