Surrey, BC (February 27, 2025) – Surrey Hospitals Foundation’s latest fundraising campaign is set to revolutionize the surgical program at Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) with the addition of a new state-of-the-art da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System that will establish a Regional Robotic Surgery Program in the South Fraser region.
To make this vision a reality, the Foundation has launched a $5.5-million campaign to purchase the robot. This past weekend, the Foundation raised $1.53-million towards this cause at their 8th annual Celebration of Care Gala.
“Surrey Memorial is the regional hospital for more than one million residents living south of the Fraser and plays a vital role in serving the entire Fraser Health region, home to more than two million people.” says Nicole Robson, President and CEO of Surrey Hospitals Foundation. “As the only hospital in B.C. to receive top honors in surgical excellence from the American College of Surgeon’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), Surrey Memorial is already leading the way in patient outcomes. Bringing robotic-assisted surgery to our hospital is the next step in delivering the highest standard of care – enhancing surgical precision, improving recovery times, and ensuring that patients in our region have access to world-class treatment close to home. Philanthropy is making this possible, helping us continue to raise the bar for excellence in healthcare.”
SMH is the busiest surgical centre in the Fraser Health region where 70 surgeons perform more than 21,000 adult and 1,200 pediatric surgeries each year, across 10 different specialty areas. Its surgical program is already receiving international accolades for excellence in surgical patient outcomes as the only hospital in B.C. to earn top honours in all-risk and high-risk categories from the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NISQIP) Award.
The new Regional Robotic Surgery Program at SMH will initially be dedicated to ear, nose, throat (ENT) and thoracic (includes esophagus, lung and stomach) surgical specialties where the need is particularly urgent, however the program will expand to include more specialities in the future.
“Having the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System will tremendously help us surgeons leverage the most innovative tools and technologies to perform more minimally invasive surgeries with precision to help save more lives,” says Dr. Ahmad Ashrafi, Regional Division Head and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at SMH. “We are elevating the standard of care here at Surrey Memorial Hospital, so we can attract and train more highly skilled physicians with the latest technological innovations and providing best-in-class patient-centered treatment options.”
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Canada, while throat cancer is now the second most common type of head and neck cancer. At least 60 per cent of thoracic and ENT surgeries are cancer-related, and robotic surgery has the ability to make huge life-changing impacts in patient outcomes.
Robotic surgery has grown in use in thousands of hospitals globally over the last 25 years and the da Vinci Surgical System has become the industry leader for complex surgery. The da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System offers the latest in minimally invasive surgical technology enabling surgeons to perform precision surgeries using advanced instrumentation, 3DHD real-time visualization, fluorescence imaging and intuitive motion technologies to help surgeons deliver better outcomes for their patients. The technology helps reduce trauma to patients and helps them recover quicker, experience less pain, reduce the length of their hospital stay so they can return to their daily lives sooner.
The da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System provides several benefits for patients and the community, including:
- Improved Access to Care: Patients across Fraser Health will experience shorter wait times and faster access to life-saving treatments.
- More Treatment Options: Robotic surgery expands the availability of advanced treatment options for conditions like lung and throat cancers, allowing for more patients to receive care, sooner.
- Comprehensive Cancer Care: In addition to surgery, it will offer complete cancer care, including reconstructive procedures and advanced treatments for head and neck cancer patients.
- Faster Recovery: Thanks to smaller incisions and reduced trauma, patients can expect shorter hospital stays and quicker returns to their everyday lives.
- Less Pain: Smaller incisions also mean less damage to the body, leading to less pain and a decreased need for pain medication, which helps save on medication costs and makes recovery easier and more comfortable.
- Reduced Risk of Complications: Robotic surgery’s enhanced precision reduces surgical site infections and blood loss, improving safety for patients undergoing extremely delicate procedures.
- Access to the Latest Technology: Patients will benefit from the most advanced surgical tools, ensuring better outcomes, especially in complex surgeries.
