The ongoing efforts to reform the NHS, as well as groundbreaking robotic technology and a new Elective Care Centre, were highlighted by South Bristol MP Karin Smyth on a tour of Southmead Hospital last week.
Ms Smyth, Minister of State for Secondary Care, visited Southmead Hospital on Friday, October 18, to highlight ongoing efforts to reform the NHS and launch the government’s largest public consultation about its future.
During her tour, she visited key areas of Southmead Hospital, including its state-of-the-art robotic surgery facilities and the construction site of the new Elective Care Centre.
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Both initiatives are at the forefront of modern healthcare, providing faster, more precise patient treatment options and helping reduce waiting times. Southmead Hospital is also pioneering the use of Da Vinci Xi surgical robots, which offer greater precision and faster patient recovery times.
This advanced technology allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with tiny incisions, providing a less invasive alternative to traditional methods.
Ms Smyth was enthusiastic about the potential of robotic surgery, saying: “What they’re doing here is incredible and internationally leading. It’s so important for patients.
“I had the privilege of talking to a couple of patients who are going home almost immediately, the next day or a couple of days after a huge surgery that they may have had to stay in hospital for six to eight weeks for,” she said.
Bob Smith, 65, from Brent Knoll, who underwent robotic prostate surgery, said: “Robotic surgery is the way things are done now, and it seems to work well with technology always innovating and getting better.”
He described how his surgery, performed just a day earlier, allowed him to go home within 24 hours. “As much as it is difficult going through it, they’ve made it a lot easier.
“To anyone else having a similar procedure, I’d tell them not to be afraid.”
Similarly, James McCallan, 29, from Totterdown, had a proctectomy – a surgery to remove all or part of the rectum – due to ulcerative colitis. He noted the stark difference in his recovery compared to traditional surgery.
“Having this life-changing surgery done by robotics is somewhat exciting,” he said. “It’s incomparable to the situation I’m in today versus when I had a full cut previously.
“Robotic surgery is quite frankly remarkable what is possible with what appears to be just a couple of scratches on my tummy versus having something that is substantially stitched, glued and incredibly painful on the surface of my chest.
“Anyone who is down for having something robotic and has the good fortune of having something done robotically, I would encourage them not to be deterred about something that seems more complex than simply going under the knife.”
Ms Smyth also toured the construction site of the new Elective Care Centre, a project that will significantly increase the hospital’s capacity to perform planned surgeries. Scheduled to open in spring 2025, the centre will feature four surgical theatres, 40 patient recovery beds, and 12 medirooms, helping to clear local waiting lists for procedures like trauma and orthopaedics.
She emphasised the centre’s importance in reducing wait times: “It’s going to help patients get through the waiting lists, especially for trauma orthopaedics, which is a big part of the waiting list. It will help the entire system by creating more capacity.”
A key part of the visit was the announcement of a new public consultation on the future of the NHS. The consultation, which begins on Monday, October 21, will be the largest of its kind since the NHS was founded.
Ms Smyth highlighted the importance of engaging the public in shaping the future of healthcare: “We want to hear from staff, patients, and the public about their experiences—what’s working, what’s frustrating—and how they’d like to see care shift into the community.”
The consultation will focus on three major shifts in healthcare: moving care from hospitals to the community, embracing digital innovation, and focusing on illness prevention. The online platform, Change.NHS.uk will allow participants to share their views, and regional events will provide further opportunities for public engagement.