Barnet (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A glittering, Michelin‑starred dinner raised £275,000, paving the way for a new surgical robot to arrive in Barnet, marking a major boost for the hospital’s technology.
In support of the Royal Free Charity, which generates finances for the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Richard Corrigan hosted the event at The portrayal, his eatery at the public portrayal Gallery.
The finances will be used to finance an alternate “Da Vinci Xi” surgical robot to prop cancer cases. The trust oversees several hospitals, including North Mid, Barnet, and Chase Farm.
One of the most well-known chefs in the UK, Richard, has a strong personal connection to the cause. After being diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2024, urologist consultant Ravi Barod used the only surgical robot at Royal Free Hospital in Camden to remove the tumor during a seven-hour procedure.
Richard said
“I was more than glad to support the Royal Free Charity in getting another surgical robot. When I was at my lowest, it was my surgeon and his team, along with that remarkable bit of kit, that gave me real hope. If I can help someone else get that same chance, then I’m absolutely delighted to do it.”
With 66,000 urgent cancer referrals annually, Royal Free London is the largest cancer treatment facility in London and the second largest in the United Kingdom. The trust must deal with the growing demand for robotic surgery to treat patients with the most severe types of cancer as the number of cancer patients keeps growing.
As of right now, the Royal Free Charity has raised £1.7 million of the £2 million demanded to add another surgical robot to the team..
Richard and his team prepared a four-course mess for the guests, which included bomb pie, seared salmon sashimi, and ballotine of guinea fowl. Following supper, Richard talked about his particular experience with cancer and how an advance in surgery saved his life.
How will the £275,000 contribution fit into the total cost?
The £275,000 raised from the spangling regale hosted by the Michelin-starred cook will contribute significantly to the total cost of the new surgical robot, but it represents only a portion of the overall expenditure. Surgical robots generally bring several million pounds when considering the purchase price, installation, staff training, and ongoing conservation.
The finances raised will help cover part of the capital cost and support the original deployment and training phases, with fresh backing probably coming from NHS budgets, sanitarium finances, and other charitable donations.
In substance, the £275,000 is a pivotal donation toward the total multimillion-pound investment needed to bring the advanced robotic surgical system to the Royal Free Hospital, helping accelerate access to state-of-the-art cancer surgery technology for cases.
