What's On News March 2021 Transforming health through robotic technology across Queensland

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Transforming health through robotic technology across Queensland

Friday 26 March 2021

More than 80 health sector and business leaders attended the launch of North Queensland’s first surgical robot, the Da Vinci XI, on 18 March.

Mater Private Hospital Townsville and Townsville University Hospital joined forces to bring the technology to the city, making state-of-the-art medical care available to both private and public patients across North Queensland.

This is a significant milestone for Mater and for North Queensland. Robotics is the future of healthcare and the new Da Vinci XI provides local clinicians with the opportunity to train in and deliver cutting edge surgery in regional Queensland, while also encouraging the next generation of surgeons and nurses to practice in these areas.

The Da Vinci XI robotic assistant enables less invasive surgery for patients and improved precision for surgeons. Eight medical specialists have undergone a carefully planned training program, following a specialised credentialing pathway so they would be ready for the first operation in March. The robot is expected to treat 120 patients a year and it will be used for complex operations including gynaecology, urology and general surgery.

The purchase of a Da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot worth $3.3 million would not have been achievable without the support of Mater Foundation, who provided $250,000.

Teams at both Mater and Townsville University Hospital have worked tirelessly to make the surgical robot a reality and the launch is a testament to the great things that can be achieved when we collaborate to improve the health of our community.