Building a Robotic Emergency General Surgery Programme
30th September 2026, 19:00 to 20:00 BST
Overview
Robotic surgery is increasingly being adopted beyond elective practice, with growing interest in its role in emergency general surgery (EGS). This webinar will explore the practical steps involved in establishing a robotic EGS programme, from developing the clinical case and engaging stakeholders to patient selection, theatre infrastructure, team training and governance. Drawing on experience from established programmes, the session will examine common barriers to implementation and share practical strategies for developing a safe, sustainable and scalable robotic emergency surgery service.
This webinar is delivered by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Partnership with ACPGBI, WHTH Robotic academic unit and the Duke's Club.
Aims
To provide surgeons with a practical framework for establishing and developing a robotic emergency general surgery programme, considering clinical, organisational, training and governance requirements for safe and sustainable implementation
Learning Objectives
By the end of this webinar, attendees should be able to:
- Describe the potential role of robotic surgery within an emergency general surgery service.
- Identify appropriate procedures and principles of patient selection when introducing robotic EGS.
- Recognise the infrastructure, workforce and training requirements needed to establish a robotic EGS programme.
- Describe key governance and safety considerations when introducing robotic surgery into the emergency setting.
- Identify common barriers to implementation and practical strategies for developing a sustainable robotic EGS service.
Panellists
Our panellists include:
Michael C. Smith, MD, FACS - Michael is an EGS Medical Director and Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Acute Care Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has established and leads Vanderbilt’s high-volume robotic Emergency General Surgery programme, integrating robotic surgery into a seven-day acute surgical service.
Mr Vanash Patel, PhD, FRCS - Vanash a is Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Clinical Director at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at Imperial College London. He has led the development of one of the UK’s first dedicated robotic Emergency General Surgery pathways within a large district general hospital, alongside establishing a high-volume robotic colorectal surgery programme.
CPD
1 Hour
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Recording
A recording of the webinar will be made available on this page in the days following the live broadcast.
