Da Vinci gynae robot offers hope after years‑long wait for endometriosis surgery in Northern Ireland

Robotic surgery could reshape waiting times for complex gynaecological procedures in Northern Ireland.

Colleen Crothers, a 41‑year‑old who has lived with chronic endometriosis since age 14, waited decades for definitive treatment. After a hysterectomy, she said, Robotic surgery came too late for me. I hope other women won’t have to wait as long.

The Da Vinci gynae robot has now been introduced at Belfast City Hospital. Operated by surgeons, the system’s wrists can twist and turn in tight pelvic spaces, offering steadier precision than a human hand in complex surgery.

This robot is the first of its kind on the island of Ireland and one of only a few in the United Kingdom. Health officials say it has the potential to reduce the lengthy waiting lists for complex gynaecological surgery that affect thousands of women’s physical and mental health and their ability to have children.

In Northern Ireland, the average wait for such surgery is about seven years, involving several specialties. Delayed treatment can lead some women to require a hysterectomy, as was the case for Crothers.

Crothers was first referred to gynaecology 22 years after her symptoms began, and a scan later confirmed both adenomyosis and endometriosis. She described missing out on family life because of daily pain and said, “I can’t have children – I have had to have a hysterectomy and I’m in early menopause. To be told you can’t have children is hard to swallow.”

Earlier this year, Crothers missed an urgent Da Vinci operation by just weeks.

Da Vinci 5 features multiple towering robotic arms that are controlled by surgeons, allowing detailed work in confined pelvic areas.

With the robot now in place, the hope is that future patients will receive timely care without the years of suffering experienced by Crothers.