'Robo doctor' in first operations

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Doctors believe the robot is the way of the future

A Berkshire hospital has become one of the first in the UK to begin regular operations with a "robotic surgeon".

The Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading took delivery of the £1.2m da Vinci machine last October.

The device, which has been leased to the hospital through donations, was used on Thursday to remove a prostate tumour in one of its first procedures.

The robot interprets the users' movements from the controls and carries out the action on the patient.

It can even counteract any trembling in the surgeon's hands.

Dr Adam Jones, surgeon, said: "The robot allows a greater level of skill and allows more people to deliver keyhole surgery with all its advantages over open surgery.

'The future'

"Less and less invasive approaches [are] the way ahead in surgery.

"The recovery is faster, shorter hospital stays with less painkillers afterwards.

"Everything is moving towards keyhole surgery and I think this is the way of the future."

A campaign to raise enough money to buy the device outright is being planned.

The machine will be used initially for gynaecology, urology and ear, nose and throat surgery.

It may then be rolled out to perform other procedures.