Trust carries out robotic-assisted HIT list to reduce waiting times

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has carried out a robotic-assisted high intensity theatre (HIT) list to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment.

Eight patients waiting for hernia and gallbladder surgery were operated on as part of the HIT list, which took place on 6 September 2025.

Of the eight patients, five underwent robotic-assisted surgery, which is more than double the average number of robotic surgeries that are usually performed at the trust in a day.

The da Vinci surgical robot used allows for more precise surgery and leads to faster recovery times and reduced risks of infection.

Rajeev Peravali, consultant general and colorectal surgeon at the trust who led the surgery HIT list, said: “By delivering weekend surgical lists, we can maximise the number of patients we can see and make significant improvements to elective care and waiting times.

“By combining this with robotic-assisted surgery, we are also meeting recommendations outlined in NHS England’s 10 year health plan to utilise surgical robots as standard practice within theatres.

“I want to thank our team within surgical services for their efforts in coordinating this HIT list and making the day a success.”

Peravali was the first to carry out robotic-assisted surgery at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust in March 2023.

The trust now has eight surgeons across two specialities who are trained in performing these procedures, and there are plans to carry out more HIT lists using robotic surgery in the future.

Afshia Iqbal from Birmingham, who went underwent robotic-assisted surgery to remove her gallbladder, said: “I’ve had pain for a number of years and was told I needed surgery in March of this year, so I’m really happy to be seeing the surgeon today.

“I think it’s great that they’re offering weekend HIT lists so that people don’t have to wait so long for the care they need.”

This is the first HIT list carried out in general surgery at the trust, although others have been carried out in orthopaedics.

Both the theatre and surgery robot only require a short amount of time to set up between operations, and the next patient is prepared at the same time, maximising efficiency of the theatre and speeding up patient turnaround time.

HIT lists are usually held on weekends, focusing on one procedure, to safely and efficiently maximise the number of patients that can be treated in one day.

Meanwhile, in April 2025, Cromwell Hospital in London performed gynaecology and Hepato Pancreato Biliary operations using the robotic-assisted surgical system, da Vinci Single Port. The Kensington-based hospital installed the system from Intuitive in March 2025, which it also plans to use for urology operations.