The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) in Norwich has doubled its robotic-assisted surgery capacity after adding two new da Vinci surgical systems. The change, announced on 29 January 2026, means more local people can have complex surgeries using minimally invasive techniques that typically involve smaller incisions and shorter hospital stays.
The expansion was supported by a £3.2 million fundraising appeal led by the N&N Hospitals Charity, alongside NHS capital investment. The two additional robots increase the Trust’s ability to offer robotic approaches across multiple specialties, including urology (bladder and kidney procedures), colorectal and upper gastrointestinal (digestive) surgery, and other complex cancer operations.
The systems are operated from a surgeon console that provides a high-definition 3D view and controls wristed instruments for very precise movements. Professor Irshad A. Shaikh, Consultant Colorectal and Lead Robotic Surgeon, said the increase from two to four active systems will allow the hospital to offer robotic care to nearly all appropriate patients, not just a select few.
Hospital and charity leaders say the investment will help tackle elective waiting lists and reduce the need for patients to travel to London for advanced surgical care. NNUH has carried out around 4,000 robotic-assisted procedures to date, making it one of the leading multi-specialty robotic hubs in the East of England.
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