Glasgow's children's hospital now has a robot used only for young patients

The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow has a surgical robot reserved for children, after surgeons used the machine for more than 30 operations in an evaluation. BBC News reported on November 5, 2026, and updated the story the next day, that the Versius Plus was bought with more than £1.5 million from the Coldstones Charitable Trust, given to Hi Scotland, the innovation arm of Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity.

Consultant paediatric surgeon Michael Jacovides, who leads the robotic program, said the system can reach more easily during keyhole surgery for complex cancer, urology, abdominal, thoracic, and gastrointestinal operations, and that the aim is less pain, smaller scars, and a quicker return to ordinary life. The first Versius operation on a child in the UK was in 2024. Other hospitals have shared robots with adult services. BBC said Glasgow is believed to be the first dedicated children's hospital in the world to buy and own this system only for paediatric patients. That "world first" is the hospital's claim about ownership, not a claim that robotic surgery for children began here.

Kirsten Watson, chief executive of the charity, said the gift is funding a dedicated paediatric program. The checked result is the purchase and the more than 30 evaluation procedures already done. The story does not report a comparison with ordinary surgery, or how many children will be offered the robot next.