NHS Ayrshire & Arran was delighted to welcome Jenni Minto MSP, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health and Professor Anna Glasier, Women’s Health Champion for the Scottish Government, to University Hospital Crosshouse on Thursday 19 February to see first-hand the significant progress being made to improve women’s health across the region.
During the visit, the Minister and Professor Glasier observed a live robotic-assisted gynaecology surgery, gaining insight into the transformative impact of the pioneering robotic surgical programme launched in July 2023.
Clinical Director and Consultant Gynaecology Robotic Surgeon Dr Inna Sokolova explained about the difference the robotic assisted surgery is making to women’s lives. She said: “The service uses state-of-the-art technology to treat a wide range of conditions, including endometriosis, fibroids and gynaecological cancers.
“Since its introduction, the programme has delivered cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatment to more than 400 women, supporting faster recovery, enhanced precision, and improved outcomes. More than 95 per cent of patients have been able to return home on the same day of their surgery, typically just three hours after their procedure demonstrating the effectiveness and patient-centred nature of this innovative approach.
“What is particularly important is that these outcomes have been achieved in an unselected group of women, including those with complex conditions and higher BMI. Robotics allows us to ‘level’ complexity – major surgery no longer needs to mean a prolonged hospital stay.
“Even within standard theatre scheduling, we have doubled our daily capacity compared to traditional models. That represents a transformational opportunity to reduce waiting times not only in NHS Ayrshire & Arran, but across NHS Scotland.
“This is about more than technology. It is about redesigning pathways, improving productivity, and ensuring women have equitable access to modern, minimally invasive care.”
The visitors also enjoyed a hands-on demonstration of the da Vinci robotic system, highlighting the skill, precision and capabilities the technology brings to modern surgical care.
As part of the visit, Ms Minto and Professor Glasier met with members of the gynaecology teams and learned more about the local Women’s Health Plan, which is focused on improving health outcomes and health services for all women and girls across Ayrshire and Arran.
Ms Minto and Professor Glasier also stopped in at the Maternity Assessment Unit to talk to staff about the recent Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) inspection report, with a particular focus on the triage service. The minister met with the team and shared her thanks for their hard work in delivering a safe service, acknowledging that working with the women of Ayrshire is key to developing the triage pathway.
Chief Executive Gordon James added: “I would like to thank Ms Minto and Professor Glasier for coming to Ayrshire and meeting with the teams who are leading the way in women’s healthcare.
“Our commitment to robotic surgery is helping shape the future of women’s healthcare in Scotland, establishing NHS Ayrshire & Arran as a centre of excellence in benign robotic gynaecological surgery.
“We are continuing to build on this success through ongoing investment in innovation, training and patient-focused healthcare, ensuring that women across the region benefit from the very best in modern treatment and support.”
Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto said: “It was a privilege to visit University Hospital Crosshouse and see the remarkable work being done to improve women’s health in Ayrshire and Arran.
“Watching the robotic-assisted surgery in action was truly impressive, and I want to pay tribute to Dr Sokolova and her team for the care they are providing. The fact that 95 per cent of patients can return home on the same day shows just how transformative this technology can be for women’s lives.
“This is exactly the kind of innovation we want to see across Scotland – patient-centred care that delivers better outcomes and faster recovery. I was also pleased to hear about the progress being made on the local Women’s Health Plan, which is so important to ensuring all women and girls in Ayrshire and Arran get the support they need.
“I congratulate NHS Ayrshire & Arran on their commitment to excellence in women’s healthcare.”