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Bendigo Health has backed vital surgeon training by funding world-class equipment to support the new da Vinci Xi robot at St John of God Hospital.

The surgical robot enables surgeons to perform procedures through small incisions, leading to less pain, faster recovery, and reduced scarring for patients.

Unveiling the $700,000 training console Eileen Hannagan, CEO Bendigo Health said the vital training equipment was funded by Bendigo Health Foundation.

“Bendigo Health is indebted to our donors who made this investment possible to brings the latest medical technology to our region’s public patients,” Eileen said.

“Purchasing this console would not have been possible without this generous support and we thank them for their continued support to advance healthcare for our communities.

This milestone is another example of the ongoing collaboration of Bendigo Health and St John of God, partnering together to improve health care provision in our region. 

“We continue to work closely with St John of God to improve healthcare for patients across our region to ensure all patients receive timely world-class care, closer to home.

“This training console in combination with the robot, strengthens our ongoing relationship with St John of God and helps develop surgical skills to grow our workforce to meet demand.

“It’s heartening to see that 12 public patients have been operated on by the robot since April. These surgeries have predominately been for thoracic and urology patients.

To date 12 public patients and 14 private patients have been operated on by the robot at St John of God Hospital in Bendigo.

Eileen said the new training console will boost opportunities for surgeons to be upskilled in Bendigo and Loddon Mallee region.

“It's an enormous commitment for our surgeons and a huge training program, and having a dual console facilitates their training, but also ensures patient safety.”

Pictured above: Eileen Hannagan, CEO Bendigo Health

Bendigo Health received the training console on Wednesday 25 June and staff attended demonstrations. They saw the relationship between surgical and gaming consoles and the similar dexterity, precision and wrist technique when gaming and performing surgery.

In attendance was Dr Dongrong Situ who was beaming with enthusiasm and pride in knowing the training console had arrived and would enhance his colleague’s skills.

“This console, when combined with the console on the existing robot, acts a dual control training mechanism. It’s the surgical version of driving instructor pedals, allowing a learner surgeon and supervisor surgeon to co-operate,” said Dr Situ.

“Close surgical supervision enhances the training of surgeons and improve the quality and safety of care provided to our patients.

“The console can be used in surgery and used as a standalone training device, allowing surgeons to build their skills through completing specific programs.

“The teacher surgeon and the learner surgeon work together side by side so they have the same vision in real time.

“I originally trained in Melbourne and fell in love with Bendigo and now spend 80 percent of my time working here,” Dr Situ.

In 2024, St John of God Bendigo successfully fundraised $2.5 million for the da Vinci XI surgical robot which has been in operation since March this year.

Bendigo Health has a public in private surgery Service Level Agreement with St John of God which enables elective public patients to have surgery at St John of God Bendigo.