CMR Surgical’s robotic surgery training receives RCS England accreditation

Surgical robotics company CMR Surgical has received Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) accreditation for its Versius Surgical Robotic System training programme, after the recent introduction of its world-first VR simulator training Versius Trainer.

RCS England is a world leader in surgical education, providing quality assurance for surgical training in the UK and globally. The College’s accreditation process reviews the provider’s facilities, resources, and educational portfolio, awarding it only where there is a clear demonstration of excellence in each of these components.

The College has awarded the accreditation to CMR Surgical’s entire global professional education portfolio.

Versius surgical training is a metrics-based training programme consisting of peer-to-peer education, digital and eLearning platforms, and data-driven metrics. CMR’s training pathway now also includes Versius Virtual Reality and Versius Trainer in VR, supporting the training pathway to be more accessible. The data collected throughout the seven-step training pathway enables personalised feedback.

CMR Surgical delivers its surgical training in partnership with leading research institutions, and surgical education providers IRCAD and Orsi Academy. CMR’s Versius Trainer in VR (VTVR) gives surgeons the option of accessing simulator exercises using a VR headset and hand controllers, allowing surgeons to become familiar with the Versius interface, anywhere at any time.

Mr Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, commented:

“The College is committed to supporting the safe introduction and development of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) across all platforms and welcomes the close and constructive dialogue between the profession and all RAS industry stakeholders in the interest of better patient care. As robotic surgery becomes more commonplace, the highest training and implementation standards must be adhered to.

“We are delighted to award RCS England accreditation to CMR Surgical’s world-class training programme. Developed in close partnership with the surgical community, CMR’s robust metric-based training programme for the Versius system demonstrates a gold standard in surgical education.”

Miss Nuha Yassin, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Council Member and Lead for Future of Surgery, Robotics and Digital Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said:

 “The use of technology has transformed the way we care for our patients. Robotic-assisted and digital surgery have made technically challenging surgical procedures more feasible in a minimally invasive way. We have recently published an RCS England practice guide to the safe adoption and implementation of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS).

 “As a surgeon who regularly operates and teaches others how to operate using the robotic platform, I have experienced the benefits that robotic-assisted minimal access surgery can bring to patients. As the use of robotic-assisted surgery becomes more widespread, it is important that equity of access to robotic platforms for surgeons, patients and hospitals is achieved. RCS England’s robotic practice guide combined with the accreditation programme give the surgical community the confidence that new technology is being introduced in a considered and safe manner. The College’s accreditation of CMR Surgical’s training programme provides this assurance and ensures that the great benefits of robotic-assisted surgery can continue to expand their reach, meaning more patients can reap the benefits of this technology.”

Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of CMR Surgical, said: “The Royal College of Surgeons of England is recognised globally as a world leader in surgical education, and represents the highest standards of good surgical practice. From the outset of Versius, CMR has approached clinical research and training in close collaboration with the surgical community. We know that surgeons want a data-led, personalised approach to training that increases the proficiency of surgeons and supports standardising surgical care for patients. We are immensely proud to have had our work recognised.”

RCS England has developed dedicated robotics e-learning and incorporates robotics into its Learning offer. The College last month launched new guidance on the safe and structured introduction of RAS, encouraging fruitful collaboration between hospitals, surgeons, and industry.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and wider surgical and dental care teams at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients.

2. For more information, please contact the Press Office: Telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6047; Email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; Out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.