Expansion of pioneering robotic surgery training program announced

The Shelford Group has expanded its START program—Surgical Training in Advanced Robotic Technology—extending accredited, platform-agnostic robotic surgery training to surgical trainees across more regions of England. From the 2026/27 academic year, START will be offered in Thames Valley, Wessex and Kent, Surrey and Sussex, following availability in the North East, North West and East of England. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will lead delivery for Thames Valley and Wessex, while Kent, Surrey and Sussex will use MATTU at Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as the first region outside the Shelford network to adopt the program independently. The training is delivered over 36–48 months, combines e-learning, simulation and supervised clinical experience, and supports national goals for robotic-assisted surgery as standard.