AQW 51013/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail, broken down by gender, the use of da Vinci robotic surgical tools in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, in the 2025-26 financial year.
Asked by Nuala McAllister MLA on 4 September 2026
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 4 September 2026
- Answer due by
- 21 September 2026
- Answered
- 27 September 202623 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Robotic-assisted surgery is a minimally invasive surgery which can bring wide-ranging benefits to both the patient and the surgeon for specific procedures.
In 2018, the da Vinci Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) platform was introduced within the urology service in Belfast HSC Trust. The service performs robotic assisted surgical procedures including radical prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy and pyeloplasty on the Belfast City Hospital site.
RAS has now expanded into other surgical specialties, including gynaecology and colorectal procedures.
In 2025/26, there were 238 RAS procedures completed on male patients and 86 completed on female patients within Belfast HSC Trust.