Hi-tech training centre prepares surgeons for robotics future
The Cambridge Digital Health and Surgical Training Centre spans 12,000 sq ft, bringing together cutting-edge facilities under one roof.
On the ground floor is the Surgical Training Centre: A state-of-the-art environment offering ‘wetlab‘ facilities, including surgical tables, X-ray machines and advanced equipment designed to support all-immersive, hands-on training.
Formally opening in early 2026, on the first floor of the building, is the Digital Health Training Centre. This centre will support immersive training using extended reality and Artificial Intelligence.
With its combination of advanced surgical and digital health training resources, the Centre is set to become the most technically sophisticated clinical training facility in the UK, providing healthcare professionals with an unrivalled environment for learning, practice and innovation.
The Shelford Surgical Training in Advanced Robotic Technology Programme (START) is an opportunity for surgical trainees to develop skills, across the Intuitive da Vinci, CMR Surgical's Versius robotic arm for keyhole operations and Medtronic Hugo™ RAS systems.
The programme is the result of a partnership between the Shelford Group and Newcastle Surgical Training Centre and helps meet Government ambitions in the roll-out of robot-assisted surgery; it has support from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
The investments were marked during a celebration at the centre, which is on the Quorum site off Barnwell Road and is part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a member of the Shelford Group.
Centre director, Dr Arun Gupta, a CUH consultant in anaesthesia, neurosciences and trauma intensive care said: “We are delighted and very proud to be part of the launch of the Shelford Group Robotic programme, and for our Centre to be the venue for the launch.
“Patients at Addenbrooke’s have for some years benefited from the use of Robot-assisted surgery and the START programme will help us remain at the vanguard of this work.”
Tim Mitchell, President of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, added: "Robotic-assisted surgery has the potential to transform patient care by enhancing surgical precision, improving visualisation, and supporting better operative outcomes, as well as enabling faster recovery and fewer complications. It is a rapidly developing area of surgical expertise, and the College welcomes initiatives such as the START programme that aim to advance training and education in this field."
Professor Clive Kay, Chair of the Shelford Group and CEO of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am delighted that the Shelford Group has been able to support Newcastle to share its expertise in surgical robotics training across the country. Building on this pilot, we hope to roll out the programme more widely to broaden access and help build a workforce with the surgery skills they will need for the future.”
Addenbrooke’s revealed last year that three surgical robots had helped specialists carry out nearly 540 lifesaving or life altering operations in 12 months. Utilising robots enabled patients to recover faster from surgery and to go home in hours or days rather than weeks.