Robot surgeon starts operations

The da Vinci machine speeds up recovery times

Surgeons at a Devon hospital have been conducting their first operations with the help of a robot.

The £1.5m da Vinci machine at Torbay Hospital makes surgery more precise, and recovery times quicker.

The machine, operated by a surgeon, gives a magnified view, allowing the the surgeon to carry out complex procedures with smaller incisions.

About 20 UK hospitals have versions of the machine, which in this case was paid for by Friends of Torbay Hospital.

Robotic surgery is the way of the future Consultant surgeon Steven Mitchell

Consultant surgeon Steven Mitchell told BBC News: "I've been a surgeon in Torbay for nearly seven years.

"This is the biggest change in my practice and will be for many years to come. It's only going to get better and better.

"You can compare it to the advance of computers.

"Robotic surgery is the way of the future."

He added: "The patients we have operated on so far are undergoing major surgery so they are nervous anyway.

"When we explain it to them they are quite excited in some ways."