Ferrol, November 28, 2025
The Ferrol health area has taken a step forward in the use of robotic surgeryto the point of becoming one of the benchmarks within the Galician Health Service (Sergas). Since 2021, the teams at the University Hospital Complex of Ferrol (CHUF) have carried out more than 1.500 procedures with the Da Vinci system, exceeding 500 operations this year alone.
This milestone is part of the commitment of Galician Government for high surgical technology, which has reinforced the resources of public hospitals with Da Vinci robots in the seven Galician health districts. In total, more than 11.400 robotic surgeries have already been performed in the region, consolidating Galicia's position among the autonomous communities with the highest implementation of this technique in public healthcare.
Ferrol, at the forefront of robotic surgery in Galicia
The Minister of Health, Antonio Gómez CaamañoHe was responsible for highlighting these figures during the opening ceremony of the 69th Meeting of the Galician Society of Surgery, held in the auditorium of the Arquitecto Marcide Hospital. Accompanied by the manager of the Ferrol health area, Fernanda López, and by the mayor of the city, José Manuel Rey Varela, the regional official emphasized that Ferrol has established itself as a leading center for robotic surgery within the Galician Health Service (Sergas).
As the regional minister explained, since the program's launch in 2021, the Ferrol health area has achieved surpassing the 1.500 robotic operations barrier, with an increasing pace of activity that reflects both the experience of the teams and the demand for this type of minimally invasive procedure.
Gómez Caamaño emphasized that robotic surgery “has opened a path of no return” and stressed the importance of evaluate the results obtainedto identify potential areas for improvement and rigorously plan the next steps. The idea, he noted, is to ensure that this technology is used efficiently, safely, and with maximum benefit for patients.
The mayor of Ferrol, José Manuel Rey Varela, took advantage of his speech at the inauguration to thank the Galician Society of Surgery for choosing the city as the venue for its annual meeting, highlighting that it is a Ideal forum for sharing innovations and experiences among professionals from across the community.
Rey Varela also highlighted the process of modernization and expansion CHUF is experiencing improvements, with work underway in the surgical block of the Naval and Marcide hospitals, the creation of new outpatient clinics and the improvement of the emergency area, works that aim to adapt the facilities to the new demands of highly complex surgery.
Million-dollar investment and deployment of the Da Vinci robot in Galicia
Ferrol's consolidation as a benchmark cannot be understood without the Galician context. The Galician government has allocated more than 56 million euros to incorporation of Da Vinci robots in each of the referral hospitals in the seven health districts. This investment has allowed robotic surgery to become part of the daily routine of the public network and not be limited to isolated centers.
Overall, the Sergas has carried out more than 11.400 robotic interventions since the program's inception. This volume places Galicia among the regions where the integration of surgical robotics is most advanced, both in terms of equipment availability and the breadth of specialties involved.
The Da Vinci robot has become a tool shared by multiple services. It is currently... fully integrated into clinical practice and is used in general surgery procedures, urology and gynecology, and in some hospitals also in thoracic and maxillofacial surgery. This versatility allows for optimized use, improved return on investment, and an expanded number of patients who benefit from the technology.
Gómez Caamaño insisted that the Xunta's approach involves continuously evaluate The activity of these teams is analyzed using indicators of clinical outcomes, efficiency, and safety. This aims to refine protocols, enhance professional training, and define new lines of work within robotic surgery.
At the same time, the regional minister recalled that the commitment to robotics is accompanied by a process of infrastructure modernization, such as the one being carried out at the CHUF with the operating room renovationThis facilitates the integration of these types of systems into an environment prepared for high technology.
CHUF: pioneering unit and innovative techniques in Ferrol
Beyond the figures, the University Hospital Complex of Ferrol stands out for its pioneering character in collaborative projects and in the incorporation of new techniques. The Minister of Health cited as an example the close cooperation between the surgery department and the inflammatory bowel disease unit in the digestive health area.
This inflammatory bowel disease unit is accredited with a degree of excellence at the state levelThis underscores the multidisciplinary work carried out in Ferrol and the level of specialization achieved. Collaboration with surgery allows for complex approaches in patients with chronic digestive diseases, optimizing the indication and timing of interventions.
Ferrol has also incorporated innovative procedures such as the use of Laser fiber for outpatient treatment of anal fistulasThis technique aims to reduce the impact on the patient, shorten hospital stays, and facilitate recovery. This type of treatment is part of a global trend toward less invasive surgery that is more focused on improving quality of life afterward.
Another milestone highlighted by the Ministry is the completion of the first bariatric surgery in the health area in 2019This step marked the beginning of a specific care pathway for patients with morbid obesity. The experience accumulated since then is now complemented by the availability of robotic surgery, which offers greater precision in these types of complex procedures.
Taken together, these initiatives position CHUF as an example of how a hospital can combining technological innovation and healthcare reorganization to respond to complex pathologies, relying on multidisciplinary teams and medium and long-term planning.
A Galician forum to share advances in surgery
The 69th Meeting of the Galician Society of Surgery, held at the Arquitecto Marcide Hospital, served as a showcase for this transformation. The meeting, attended by surgical professionals from all over Galicia, is configured as a space to discuss challenges and opportunities that current surgery, including robotic surgery, raises.
The scientific program of the meeting includes presentations and panel discussions on areas such as breast surgery, abdominal wall surgery, artificial intelligence applied to surgery or the care of surgical emergencies. The presence of experts from different Galician hospitals allows for comparing experiences and analyzing which practices can be extended to the entire system.
During the opening ceremony, both the Galician Ministry of Health and the local government agreed on the importance of holding meetings of this kind in Ferrol, as they contribute to to make visible the work that is carried out at the CHUF and to strengthen ties between professionals. The city, the mayor pointed out, is also offering itself as a host for future scientific events related to healthcare.
In this context, robotic surgery is not presented as an isolated tool, but as part of a clinical and technological innovation ecosystem which also addresses issues such as continuing education, the integration of new imaging technologies, and the use of data to improve decision-making.
Holding the meeting in a hospital that has already performed over 1.500 robotic surgeries provides a practical example of how this technology is being implemented in the public healthcare system, making it easier for the conference discussions to connect with the realities of the field. daily reality of Galician operating rooms.
With the combination of sustained investment in Da Vinci robots, the experience accumulated in more than 1.500 robotic surgeries in Ferrol With the development of specialized units and innovative techniques, the Ferrol health area is consolidating its position as a leader in high-tech surgery in Galicia. Everything suggests that, if this line of work and continuous evaluation is maintained, robotics will continue to gain importance at the CHUF (University Hospital Complex of Ferrol) and throughout the Galician Health Service (Sergas), with a direct impact on the quality and safety of patient care.
