Before any new surgical technology is introduced into an operating theatre at Electiva Hospitals, it undergoes careful, rigorous evaluation. While innovation is essential, it is never adopted for novelty alone at our hospitals. In this interview, we speak with our Chief Clinical Officer, Lee Rycroft, about how new surgical technologies are assessed, from evidence review and clinical governance to pathway integration and patient safety. Our conversation offers insight into how Electiva balances innovation with responsibility, ensuring that every advancement introduced into our hospitals delivers meaningful value for clinicians, patients, and the wider healthcare system.
When a new surgical technology emerges, what are the first questions you ask before considering it for clinical use at Electiva?
“It’s always around patient safety and clinical benefit. ‘Is there good evidence that it improves outcomes compared with current practice?’ ‘Has it been validated and peer-reviewed?’
I also consider cost-effectiveness and value, regulatory approval, and how easily it can be integrated into existing practice. Finally, I think about training requirements and whether the team can use it safely and consistently, ensuring it aligns with Electiva’s commitment to high-quality, patient-centred care.”
How do you assess whether surgical teams are ready to integrate new technologies into existing pathways, and what training considerations are essential?
“I assess readiness by looking at both technical capability and team culture. This includes evaluating whether the surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and allied professionals have the baseline skills, openness to change, and time to adopt a new technology safely. I also consider how well the technology fits into existing clinical pathways and whether there is clear leadership and governance to support its implementation.
Training is essential and should be structured, competency-based, and ongoing. We always include formal instruction, simulation where possible, as well as supervised cases and clear criteria for sign-off. Just as importantly, there should be plans for audit, feedback, and continuous support to ensure that the technology is being used safely and effectively, with patient safety remaining the priority throughout the learning curve.”
From a governance perspective, what needs to be in place before a technology can be rolled out consistently across a private healthcare setting?
“There must be robust clinical and organisational oversight before rolling out a new technology across the hospital. This includes clear evidence of safety and effectiveness, appropriate regulatory approval, and a defined clinical governance framework with named clinical leads responsible for implementation. Policies and standard operating procedures should be in place to ensure consistent use, alongside risk assessments, incident reporting processes, and outcome monitoring. There also needs to be assurance around training, credentialing, and competency sign-off for all staff, as well as arrangements for audit, quality assurance, and continuous improvement to ensure the technology is delivering safe, high-quality care in line with organisational and regulatory standards. It’s a lot more than you might think!”
Once a new technology is introduced, how do you measure whether it’s delivering the clinical and operational benefits expected?
“Well, we would measure its impact using both clinical and operational metrics. Clinically, this would include patient outcomes such as complication rates, accuracy, recovery times, and patient-reported outcome measures, compared with baseline data. Operationally, we would look at efficiency indicators such as theatre utilisation, procedure duration, length of stay, and resource use. Regular audit and benchmarking against expected standards are essential, alongside feedback from clinicians and patients. This data-driven approach allows us to confirm whether the technology is genuinely improving quality and efficiency, or whether further optimisation, training, or even withdrawal is needed.”
Are there instances where Electiva has chosen not to adopt a new technology, and what influenced that decision?
“Of course! It could have been because the evidence did not yet demonstrate a clear improvement in patient outcomes or value compared with existing practice. In some cases, concerns around patient safety, an unproven learning curve, insufficient regulatory or long-term outcome data, or lack of cost-effectiveness have influenced the decision. Ultimately, the choice not to proceed is guided by a commitment to evidence-based practice, robust clinical governance, and ensuring that any innovation introduced genuinely enhances quality, safety, and the patient experience rather than adding unnecessary risk or complexity.”
What emerging surgical technologies are you watching most closely, and what would need to happen for them to be considered in the future?
“One emerging technology we are watching closely is the PRESERVE technique in breast augmentation, which aims to reduce tissue trauma and potentially improve recovery and long-term outcomes. We would need to see robust peer-reviewed evidence demonstrating clear benefits over current techniques in terms of safety, complication rates, patient-reported outcomes, and implant longevity. In addition, it would require appropriate regulatory approval, a well-defined training and credentialing pathway for surgeons, and assurance that it can be integrated into existing clinical pathways without increasing risk. Only once there is strong clinical evidence, governance approval, and confidence in consistent, safe delivery would it be considered for wider adoption.”
Innovation remains essential to advancing surgical care, but for us at Electiva Healthcare, it is always approached with discipline and intent. As Lee highlights, the successful adoption of new surgical technologies depends not on novelty, but on robust evidence and continuous outcome evaluation. By maintaining a rigorous, patient-centred approach to innovation, Electiva ensures that every technology introduced into its theatres delivers genuine clinical value that supports safer care, consistent outcomes, and long-term confidence for both clinicians and patients.
Because We Care More.