Fraser Health launches first robotic surgery program at Surrey Memorial

Fraser Health has opened its first robotic-assisted surgery program at Surrey Memorial Hospital, beginning with thoracic cases and soon expanding to ENT. The launch brings a da Vinci Xi system to the region and is meant to improve access, precision and recovery for patients across Fraser Health and British Columbia.

Why it matters: - Fraser Health now has its first robotic-assisted surgery program, expanding access to advanced minimally invasive care in a region that serves more than 1.9 million people. - The program is aimed at complex thoracic and ENT procedures, where greater precision can mean less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries. - Surrey Memorial Hospital becomes the sixth active da Vinci surgical robot site in British Columbia, highlighting how limited this technology remains in the province. - The launch is also intended to help reduce wait times for specialized surgery across Fraser Health.

What happened: - Surrey Memorial Hospital performed Fraser Health's first robotic-assisted surgery on June 29, 2026, using a da Vinci Xi Surgical System. - The hospital is Fraser Health's regional centre for thoracic and ENT care. - Surrey Hospitals Foundation donors funded the robotic system. - Fraser Health completed the operating room upgrades, clinical implementation, recruitment and specialized training needed to start the program. - The program began with thoracic procedures and will expand to ENT cases in the coming weeks. - The first ENT case is expected in the coming weeks.

The details: - The da Vinci Xi is designed for minimally invasive surgery and provides enhanced visualization, precision and dexterity. - The technology is intended for procedures involving the lungs, chest, throat and head and neck. - Surrey Memorial Hospital's robotic program is the first of its kind in Fraser Health. - British Columbia has far fewer da Vinci robots in operation than Ontario, which had more than 17 active systems as of last year. - Fraser Health said the launch is part of a broader strategy that will eventually include a second robotic surgery program at Royal Columbian Hospital. - The hospital is also using the launch to attract highly specialized clinicians. - Dr. Brent Chang joined Surrey Memorial Hospital from Mayo Clinic to help grow the ENT program.

Between the lines: - The launch shows how philanthropy and public health infrastructure are being paired to speed adoption of costly surgical technology. - Fraser Health's scale and the province's limited robot access make the Surrey Memorial program a visible test case for whether robotic surgery can be expanded more broadly in British Columbia. - The move also signals competition for specialized surgical talent, which remains a key constraint as health systems add advanced programs. - Surrey Hospitals Foundation framed the effort as more than a technology purchase, positioning it as a centre-of-excellence strategy that could support research and innovation.

What's next: - Fraser Health will add ENT robotic cases after the first thoracic rollout. - A second robotic surgery program is expected to become operational at Royal Columbian Hospital. - Fraser Health is likely to continue building out staffing, training and specialty capacity as demand for advanced surgery rises. - Surrey Memorial Hospital's new program may serve as the template for future robotic expansion in the health authority.

The bottom line: - Fraser Health has taken its first major step into robotic surgery, and the real test now is whether the new program can scale access, recruit specialists and shorten waits for patients across the region.