Hospital uses ROBOTS to perform surgery on patients in Milton Keynes

The Versius robotic arm technology is used to perform keyhole or laparoscopic surgery for a range of colorectal procedures - including operations for bowel cancer.

Versius mimics a human arm, working in a similar way to a computer games console, with the ability to move and rotate its "wrists" in a unique fashion.

Milton Keynes is one of the two hospitals in Europe to use the robot arms which have been hailed by doctors as "a leap forward in surgical precision.". The other is Western General Hospital in Edinburgh

CMR Surgical, the British medical firm behind the technology, says the development could cut the need for one additional doctor during operations, freeing up stretched NHS staff to carry out care elsewhere.

The robotic surgery is also "better for patients" and can reduce recovery times and pain, say experts. It reduced stress and fatigue for surgeons themselves.

Professor Joe Harrison, Chief Executive at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Innovative robotic systems like Versius are set to play a vital part in delivering world-leading surgical care across the NHS and I am delighted that the team at Milton Keynes will be some of the first in the world to be routinely using this technology."

He added: "“Versius represents a remarkable step forward in this field and one that could help make keyhole surgery far more accessible. The hope for us is that this will lead to better outcomes for patients as well as helping us to free up bed space that can then be used to help others in need.”

Lord Prior, NHS England chair, said: "It's fantastic that the NHS is the first in Europe to use the next generation of surgical robots, and yet another example of how the NHS is teaming up with Britain's excellent engineering sector to deliver world-class care."

CMR Surgical says the two NHS sites could be used to carry out as many as 700 minimal access surgeries each year.

The company is already in talks with other NHS trusts about deploying the tool more widely.

A CMR spokesman said: "Versius is both portable and transportable. Its modular design allows individual arms to be moved effortlessly around the operating room, between suites and even between floors of your hospital, to maximise efficiency within the OR suite."