HCA Healthcare UK marks 10 Years of MAKO robotic innovation

The achievement reflects HCA Healthcare UK's continued investment in advanced surgical technology. The organisation now operates the UK's largest independent robotic surgery programme, spanning multiple specialties and platforms. In orthopaedics, MAKO technology has helped transform joint replacement surgery through personalised pre-operative planning and real-time guidance during procedures.

Professor Fares Haddad and the team at The Princess Grace Hospital performed the first MAKO-assisted clinical orthopaedic procedures in the UK. Over the past decade, the team have completed more than 2,000 hip and knee replacements, using the technology to support greater surgical precision and consistency.

Across the wider HCA Healthcare UK network, MAKO is now available in four hospitals, with thousands of patients benefiting from the programme. Its growth reflects increasing demand for innovative treatments and faster recovery pathways.

Professor Fares Haddad, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Princess Grace Hospital and Orthopaedics Medical Director at HCA Healthcare UK, has been closely involved in the development of robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgery in the UK. A pioneer in the field, he was instrumental in bringing the current generation of MAKO technology to the UK.

Professor Haddad said:

"Reaching more than 2,000 MAKO-assisted procedures at The Princess Grace Hospital is an important milestone and reflects a decade of commitment to innovation in orthopaedic care. More broadly, it has been exciting to see the adoption of MAKO technology expand across HCA Healthcare UK's network, enabling even more patients to benefit from robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery. 

Robotic-assisted surgery allows us to plan procedures with extraordinary detail and execute them with greater precision, helping us tailor treatment to the individual needs of every patient. 

What has been particularly exciting is seeing how rapidly the technology has evolved over the last 10 years. MAKO has moved from being an emerging innovation to becoming an established part of modern joint replacement surgery and will soon expand to revision surgery. Combined with the expertise of multidisciplinary clinical teams, it is helping us continually improve the patient experience and advance standards of care."

Research has shown that robotic-assisted joint replacement can support improved early recovery and reduced postoperative pain in some patient groups, contributing to growing adoption of the technology internationally. 

As HCA Healthcare UK marks 10 years of MAKO surgery the organisation is looking ahead to the next generation of surgical innovation, with ongoing investment in robotics and innovative treatment approaches to further improve outcomes for patients.

Prof Haddad adds, “MAKO will soon expand to revision procedures and to shoulder surgery, further developing the principles of 3-dimensional planning and HAPTIC guided safe execution of personalised implant surgery that benefits patients.”