On the weekend of 21–22 September 2024, I had the privilege of being part of another landmark moment in women’s health: a Super Surgery Weekend at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where we performed a record 30 robotic-assisted hysterectomies in just two days.

As someone who has dedicated much of my career to advancing minimally invasive gynaecological surgery, it was both a demanding and deeply rewarding experience. This wasn’t just about hitting numbers — it was about transforming access to care for women who had been waiting months, sometimes longer, for life-changing treatment.

Typically, we might perform four robotic hysterectomies in a day. But thanks to precise planning, dedicated teams, and the use of High Intensity Theatre (HIT) lists, we scaled this up more than five-fold over one weekend. The result? Dozens of women treated efficiently and safely, many of whom were able to go home the same day.

This initiative brought together an incredible multidisciplinary team: gynaecologists, anaesthetists, scrub nurses, operating department practitioners, sterile services, admin teams, and coordinators — all working seamlessly to make it happen. Our surgical workflows were optimised to minimise theatre turnaround time, and we operated in parallel across two robotic theatres using the Da Vinci Xi Surgical System.

For patients, the benefits are tangible:

• Faster recovery times

• Less post-operative pain

• Minimal scarring

• Shorter hospital stays

• Reduced disruption to life

As a private gynaecologist in London, I bring this same approach to my practice at Happiher — combining surgical precision with compassionate care and continuity. Whether treating fibroids, abnormal bleeding, adenomyosis, or early-stage gynaecological cancers, robotic hysterectomy allows us to preserve patient safety while maximising recovery.

I was particularly proud to see our clinical fellows taking part, supported every step of the way. Training the next generation of robotic surgeons is not only a professional duty — it’s the only way we scale this kind of excellence sustainably.

Our colleagues in upper gastrointestinal surgery also made headlines that weekend, performing 29 robotic procedures for conditions like gallstone disease — the equivalent of nearly a month’s workload. Together, we treated 59 patients in 48 hours, making a serious impact on the surgical backlog and demonstrating what’s possible when innovation meets collaboration.

These Super Surgery Weekends continue to demonstrate that gynaecology deserves to be prioritised — in both NHS and private settings. They’re a reminder that, when we work with purpose, efficiency, and empathy, we can deliver the kind of care women have waited far too long for.

With care

Dr Manou Manpreet Kaur