Published on: 19th February 2026
RNOH continues to lead the way in adopting cutting‑edge technology to support outstanding patient care, with a new 35W holmium laser now in place for treating stones in the urinary tract.
As the UK’s leading orthopaedic hospital, we’re known for taking on complex cases and using innovative techniques, and this new laser is another example of how we’re investing in advanced equipment to improve both patient outcomes and staff experience.
The laser gives our urology team a faster and more precise way to break down bladder stones, using controlled energy pulses that reduce heat and limit potential tissue damage. It’s a clear improvement on the older method, which required a full bladder in order to use older equipment such a stone punch which increases the risk of bleeding, infection, perforation and autonomic dysreflexia in our neurogenic bladder cohort.
For patients, this means more efficient shorter procedures, quicker recovery times and, in most cases complete stone clearance in a single procedure. Historically, patients with stones of this size required open surgery to remove these which is vastly more invasive and requires weeks of recovery both in and out of hospital; most of our patients will now go home the same day.
This is also good news for the teams delivering the procedures. Staff who’ve trained on the new system have said it feels more efficient and easier to use, helping make the experience smoother and safer for both patients and colleagues. Surgeons and theatre staff have now completed all the required training, and everything is in place for the first use.
The laser will be used in Theatre 3, which recently had improvement works to prepare it as a laser‑safe space and ensure it’s fully equipped for the new setup. The first procedure using the new laser took place last week.
This upgrade is a welcome step forward for staff and patients alike, and another example of how we continue to modernise our services to support high‑quality care within the London Spinal Injury Unit.
Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen.
