Nicholas Kokinos becomes first UK patient to have touch-sensitive robotic surgery
A patient at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London has become the first in the UK to have robotic surgery with force feedback, which lets the surgeon feel pressure on tissue.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A patient at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in south London has become the first in the UK to have robotic surgery using technology that gives the surgeon a sense of touch.
Nicholas Kokinos had a rare and extremely large hernia, which made him a suitable candidate for the procedure. He was operated on with a da Vinci 5 robotic system that adds force feedback. For the first time, the surgeon could feel the pressure being applied while pushing and pulling on tissue. A dial moved to show when to stop.
Professor James Gossage, the surgeon, had spent hours training with the technology. He said the feedback was reassuring and reduced his reliance on visual clues, which can be hard to read when there is bleeding or another problem. The hope is that this leads to less tissue damage, less inflammation and faster recovery.
The operation took about an hour, slightly faster than it would have been without the robot. Mr Kokinos was waiting to be discharged a couple of hours later and went home that evening. He said he felt much better and relieved, and thanked the NHS team. He added that technology was one thing but the human factor was very important.
Robots are already used in operating theatres, including at this hospital, which has used them in one form or another for 12 years. The government's 10-year plan includes an ambition for nine out of 10 keyhole procedures to be robotic-assisted within the next decade. But access remains a postcode lottery, and the Royal College of Surgeons has said the technology is expensive and needs central government funding. The Department of Health and Social Care would not be drawn on how likely that funding is in the next budget.
Early data from trials in the United States suggest patients recover more quickly and go home sooner. Surgeons do not expect robots to replace them completely. One said the concern is that robots will take the easier operations while humans are left with the complicated cases. During the visit, a reporter also tested the controls of the system, without any patient involved.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| A UK patient was reported as the first in the country to undergo robotic surgery using the da Vinci 5 force feedback system, which allowed the surgeon to feel pressure for the first time. | |
| The patient was reported to have returned home the same evening and to be recovering well. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 4 led on the human story of the first UK patient to have robotic surgery with force feedback, with detailed access to the operation and the patient's discharge. It framed the technology as a real advance while noting that NHS access is uneven and that central funding is unresolved. Its distinctive touch was allowing its reporter to test the robot controls, and it ended with a light exchange about surgeons fearing robots will take the easier operations.
- “It's reassuring to know that you're getting feedback about how hard you're pushing and pulling on the tissue”
- “The surgery took about an hour, slightly faster than it would have been without the robot.”
- “I feel much better and relieved than before. No stress and I feel grateful for the NHS team because technology is one thing but the human factor is really a very important factor.”
Broadcast Timeline
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