St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Lismore say they have introduced ground-breaking robotic surgery technology.
In a media statement, a spokesperson for the hospital said they have become the first regional private hospital in NSW, and only the second hospital in Australia, to introduce the Medbot TOUMAI® Surgical Robotic System.
They say, ‘The arrival of this advanced robotic technology represents a major leap forward in surgical care for the Northern Rivers, allowing highly complex procedures to be performed using minimally invasive, keyhole techniques rather than traditional open surgery’.
‘This is a transformative moment for healthcare in our region,’ says hospital CEO, Peter Fahey. ‘The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery means safer procedures, faster recovery times, and improved outcomes for our patients—right here in Lismore.’
‘The TOUMAI® system will be used across multiple specialties, including urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, and general surgery, where the greatest growth in robotic procedures is expected.
Advancing surgical precision and patient outcomes
The media release continues, ‘Robotic-assisted surgery enhances a surgeon’s precision, control, and visual clarity through the use of high-definition, three-dimensional imaging and advanced robotic instruments that replicate natural hand movements while filtering tremor’.
‘For patients, this typically results in:
- Smaller incisions
- Reduced pain and blood loss
- Lower risk of complications
- Shorter hospital stays
- Faster return to daily activities
‘The TOUMAI® system is distinguished by its force-sensing technology, allowing surgeons to feel tissue resistance during procedures—a first for laparoscopic robotic systems. It also supports 5G-enabled telesurgery, enabling expert surgeons to perform selected procedures remotely with high precision when clinically appropriate.
‘St Vincent’s Private Hospital Lismore has a proven track record in surgical innovation. The hospital successfully introduced the ROSA® Knee System in 2022, followed by the CORI® Surgical System, both of which use robotics-assisted technology to deliver highly accurate orthopaedic joint replacement procedures’.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
