The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow has become the first dedicated children's hospital in the world to purchase and own the Versius Plus surgical robot, which will be used exclusively for paediatric surgery.
The device was funded by a £1.5 million donation from the Coldstones Charitable Trust to Hi Scotland, the innovation arm of the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity. It is the largest single donation the charity has ever received.
Capabilities and benefits of the robot
The robot will provide greater access during keyhole surgeries and will assist with operations for complex cancer, urology, abdominal, thoracic and gastrointestinal conditions. Doctors say it will offer enhanced precision while reducing pain and minimising scarring, helping young patients return to their everyday lives sooner after procedures.
Michael Jacovides, a consultant paediatric surgeon and clinical lead for the robotic surgery programme, said: "Robotic assisted surgery will increasingly be part of caring for children in the future and I am excited it is already here for the children of Glasgow. We are developing our service to cover more conditions, and to offer it to more children and babies across Scotland."
He added: "We owe the presence of the robot to our charity and our sponsor. We are proud to have established Glasgow as a leader in this field, and we are working with partners nationally and internationally so these technologies become more widely used."
Evaluation and first UK case
The first case of a child in the UK undergoing surgery with Versius occurred in 2024, following multiple surgeries with adults. An evaluation phase was carried out, during which surgeons performed more than 30 procedures with the robot.
The investment is also expected to help more children access highly specialised treatment closer to home, reducing the need for some families to travel elsewhere in the UK for procedures.
Reactions from charity and NHS leaders
Kirsten Watson, CEO of Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity and its innovation arm Hi Scotland, said: "This extraordinary donation from the Coldstones Charitable Trust is enabling something genuinely pioneering for children's healthcare. By funding the purchase of the Versius Plus system, they are helping establish a world-first dedicated paediatric programme based around this technology. Innovation is ultimately about improving outcomes and experiences for children and families, and this investment has the potential to influence the future development of paediatric surgery far beyond Glasgow and Scotland. We are incredibly grateful to the Coldstones Charitable Trust for their exceptional gift."
Dr Katriona Brooksbank, Regional Head of Innovation at NHSGGC and head of the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, said: "This is an outstanding example of how innovation, philanthropy, clinical leadership and industry collaboration can come together to deliver real benefits for patients and families."
She added: "Through the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, we have worked closely with clinical teams, Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity and CMR Surgical to support the governance, evaluation and adoption of this pioneering technology. Our role is to ensure innovative solutions can be introduced safely, responsibly and with a strong evidence base, while keeping patient benefit at the centre."
A trustee of the Coldstones Charitable Trust added: "We are delighted to once again be able to support the excellent work of Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity. The opportunity to support the purchase of the robot, a first for solely paediatric surgery, was a very easy decision. This will truly turn the dial on surgery for children and reinforce Scotland's reputation for paediatric surgery."
