4 min read
Posted
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
at 9:24 AM ADT
Nova Scotia Health is transforming care through robotics-assisted surgery
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Nova Scotia Health has expanded its robotics-assisted program to eight surgery systems since launching its first surgical robot at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in 2019.
The technology supports surgeries across specialties, including urology, gynecologic cancer, orthopedics, neurosurgery, spine, general, thoracic and hepatobiliary surgery, in addition to supporting training in the QEII simulation lab.
With the support of the QEII Foundation and its donors, Nova Scotia Health is establishing a Centre of Excellence for Robotic Surgery to support expanded access to these surgeries to more patients and communities.
Robotic-assisted surgery gives surgeons enhanced visualization and control, allowing them to customize surgeries and preserve healthy tissues and structures. For patients, it can mean faster recoveries, shorter stays, reduced blood loss and pain and fewer complications.
"We are immensely proud of the results we have achieved for our patients, province and our health system," says Eileen MacGibbon, vice-president of operations for Nova Scotia Health for Central Zone.
“Ultimately, this is not simply an investment in technology. It is an investment in our patients, our healthcare professionals and the future capacity of our health system.”
By the Numbers (as of July 2026)
- Nearly 4,000 patients have benefited from robotics-assisted surgeries.
- 31 surgeons use robotics to support surgical care. An increase from just three in 2019.
- Robotics-assisted surgery patients go home sooner. Fewer complications after surgery show these patients are not re-admitted, nor seek follow-up care in emergency departments as often.
- On average these patients spent 3.3 fewer days in hospital after surgery.
- Re-admission after surgery has decreased by more than 30 per cent.
- Emergency department visits have also decreased. 12,000 hours were freed up as a result allowing clinicians to care for other patients.
Robotics Surgery Milestones since 2019:
2019 - QEII launches first surgical robot (da Vinci) to assist with urological and gynecological cancer surgeries, head and neck cancer surgeries. A first for Atlantic Canada.
2020 - QEII surgeons become first in Canada to use Medtronic Stealth Autoguide Cranial Robot to perform brain surgeries.
2020 - QEII surgeons begin using da Vinci robot for ear, nose and throat cancer surgeries.
2021 - QEII team the second in Canada to use the MAKO SmartRobotics system for partial and total knee replacement surgeries.
2022 - QEII surgeons launch Canada’s first spinal robotics surgery program using the Medtronic MAZOR xStealth Edition robot.
2023 - Dartmouth General Hospital team first in Canada to uses the MAKO SmartRobotics system for a total hip replacement.
2024 - First pediatric robotics-assisted surgery occurs at QEII with Medtronic MAZOR xStealth Edition spinal robot.
2025 - QEII Health Sciences Centre makes history, hosting surgical skills training session with MAKO SmartRobotics system.
2025 - Dartmouth General Hospital team uses surgical robot to complete high-volume orthopedic surgery day.
2026 - QEII becomes home to the Intuitive da Vinci Xi – the second da Vinci system and the hospital’s seventh surgical robot overall. This allowed for expansion of services to include some colorectal cancer surgery, thoracic surgeries and hepatobiliary surgery.
These successes resulted from the collaborative efforts of healthcare teams, government, partners and donors.
Together, these investments and initiatives ensure more Nova Scotians have access to advanced surgical care closer to home, today and in the years ahead.
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