Robotic assisted surgery programme
Celebrating six-month achievements
LNWH is celebrating an extraordinary first six months of its expanded robotic-assisted surgery programme, with more than 350 procedures completed across Ealing and Northwick Park hospitals since the introduction of two new surgical robots in April 2026.
In just six months, the Trust has transformed robotic surgery from a service operating within a single specialty at one hospital into a rapidly expanding programme spanning five surgical specialties across two sites, delivering improvements in surgical care and patient experience.
Ealing Hospital has completed more than 250 procedures in its first six months which is believed to represent the strongest start to a new robotic surgery programme across the whole of Europe.
Meanwhile, Northwick Park Hospital has reached its own significant milestone, completing over 100 robotic procedures, with activity continuing to accelerate as additional surgeons and specialties join the programme.
These achievements mark the successful delivery of the Trust's original vision: establishing Ealing as a high-volume surgical hub while developing Northwick Park as a centre for more complex robotic procedures.
Introducing Mercury and Venus
To celebrate the introduction of the new robotic platforms, the public and colleagues across the Trust were invited to take part in a competition to name the robots, helping to give the programme its own identity.
Following the competition, the winning names have now been officially revealed as Mercury for Northwick Park Hospital and Venus for Ealing Hospital.
Inspired by the planets of our solar system, the names establish a theme for the future, with any additional robotic platforms set to continue the planetary naming tradition.
A transformation powered by people
While the technology has enabled new possibilities, the success of the programme has been driven by the commitment and collaboration of teams across the Trust.
Surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, operational teams, and other colleagues across the trust have embraced new ways of working, developed specialist skills and helped establish efficient surgical pathways at remarkable pace.
The programme has not simply introduced new equipment; it has created a new model of surgical delivery, strengthening multidisciplinary working, expanding training opportunities and building a growing community of robotic surgical expertise across both hospitals.
Sandy Young, Clinical Theatres Manager at Ealing Hospital said:
“The service boosts the energy in the team to learn the new skills. It also re-defines the culture of collaborative partnership within the team to create a harmonious and productive environment as we move forward.”