Specialist Services

Robotic Surgery at Newcastle

We use the latest robotic and laparoscopic equipment to treat many urological conditions and are continually developing new techniques, which allow minimal damage to healthy tissue, i.e. minimally invasive procedures. Laparoscopic/robotic (also known as keyhole) surgery is minimally invasive and involves tiny incisions rather than larger cuts in traditional, open surgery, and the use of narrow instruments to carry out the treatment required. This approach means patients have a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery, and there are fewer complications.

A national leader in the specialist field of laparoscopy.

We are leaders in the UK for the number and complexity of laparoscopic/robotic urological procedures undertaken, including prostate, bladder, kidney and reconstructive urology procedures. Our results have been audited and published in peer reviewed journals. Over the last 5 years robotic surgery has overtaken laparoscopic surgery as the preferred minimally-invasive surgical approach for most urological procedures, and we continue to push the boundaries as one of the first centres in the UK now offering this service for benign urological conditions and urological reconstruction.

Committed to providing the highest quality care

We are committed to further developing the use of laparoscopy and robotic surgery in order to improve the quality of care we can provide for our patients and currently offer minimally invasive surgery as follows:

• Robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate gland)
• Robotic assisted partial nephrectomy (partial removal of the kidney)
• Robotic assisted cystectomy (removal of the bladder) and urinary diversion or neobladder formation
• Robotic assisted pyeloplasty (removal of blockage in ureter)
• Robotic assisted ureteric reimplantation/ureteroplasty (repair of damaged ureters)
• Robotic cystoplasty (augmentation of bladder using bowel)
• Robotic nephroureterectomy (removal of kidney and ureter)
• Laparoscopic and robotic simple / radical nephrectomy (removal of the kidney)
• Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (for kidney transplants)

We have 3 Da Vinici Xi/Si robots with dual console systems and simulators, allowing high quality training and education for which we are a Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and European Robotic Urology Society (ERUS) accredited centre.

Contact us

If you would like any further information on any aspect of our urological, robotic and laparoscopic surgical programme please contact:

Mr Naeem Soomro
Consultant Urologist

For information on our robotic surgery fellowship programs please contact:

Mr Bhavan Rai

Consultant Urologist

Our consultant urologists who specialise in robotics and laparoscopy are Mr N Soomro, Mr M Johnson, Mr D Rix, Mr B Rai, Mr A Nambiar, Mr T Page, Mr R Veeraterapillay and Mr A Rogers