International pioneers of robotic surgery will be at the Royal Free Hospital later this month to talk about the evolution of robotics and how it is transforming healthcare. 

Rajesh Ahlawat, who has pioneered robot-assisted kidney transplants in New Delhi, and Craig Rogers and James Peabody, two experts in robotic kidney surgery from Detroit, are among the speakers at a symposium on robotics being held on Friday 24 March in the Peter Samuel Hall.

The ‘Future Surgery Now: Robotics at the Royal Free’ symposium will also feature a demonstration of the Royal Free’s surgical robot and patients who have benefited from robotic surgery will be talking about their care.

The event, which is being held in the Peter Samuel Hall, is aimed at exploring the future of robotic surgery at the Royal Free London. Currently the trust’s robot is used to carry out kidney cancer operations and, since last year, it is also being used to assist in kidney transplants.

The symposium has been organised by robotic surgery consultant Ravi Barod, who last year helped carry out the first robot-assisted kidney transplant at the Royal Free Hospital.

All staff are welcome to attend the event.

Symposium agenda

Friday 24 March 12-3pm
Peter Samuel Hall

12noon Welcome - Michael Aitchison, director of renal cancer, RFL

12.05pm Introduction to robotic surgery – Prasad Patki, specialist centre for kidney cancer, RFL

12.15pm Pioneering robotic urological surgery – James Peabody, vice-chairman, Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, USA

12.35pm Milestones in robotic renal surgery – Craig Rogers, director of renal cancer surgery, Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, USA

12.55pm Robotic renal cancer surgery at the Royal Free London – Ravi Barod, specialist centre for kidney cancer, Royal Free London

1.15pm Lunch and robot demonstration

1.45pm The evolution of robotic renal transplantation – Rajesh Ahlawat, chairman of urology, Fortis Escorts Kidney and Urology Institute, New Delhi, India

2.10pm Robotic renal transplantation at The Royal Free London – Neal Banga, consultant transplant and endocrine surgeon, RFL

2.30pm Patient’s perspective – Robotic transplant and robotic nephrectomy patients

2.40pm Panel discussion: The future of Robotics at The Royal Free London – moderated by Faiz Mumtaz, specialist centre for kidney cancer, RFL

3pm Close

Ends

Image: The surgery team, who recently carried out a robot-assisted kidney transplant, with the surgical robot

Notes to editors

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver and kidney transplantation, haemophilia, renal care, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, Parkinson's disease, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London. Read 'A bigger trust, a better future'.