THE latest robotic technology at Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, is being kept busy – and now has a name.

Musgrove was the first hospital in Somerset to begin using revolutionary robotic surgery, thanks to a £1.5million donation from the hospital’s League of Friends.

The high tech console has been named MUSBOT, following a naming competition run by the league.

The name was chosen by pharmaceutical company manager Frazer Hudson, who was alerted to the competition by his mother-in-law, Jeannette Street, who is an ENT staff nurse at Musgrove.

“I’m a frequent visitor to the League of Friends shop in the hospital and I saw details of the competition,” she said.

“I came up with an unpronounceable Latin name but they clearly preferred Fraser’s choice, so he has the family bragging rights now.”

Frazer said he was “delighted” to have won the competition, the prize for which will be a name plaque on the side of the robot.

Consultant colorectal surgeon Richard Bamford, who helped choose the winner, said MUSBOT is already earning his keep.

He said: “It has been used in operating theatres since June and I have personally used it for 20 bowel operations.

"It’s a fantastic piece of kit, but contrary to what people might think the robot doesn’t actually conduct the surgery.

“But it really does help the surgeon to carry out more accurate, more sophisticated, less invasive surgery, and that clearly benefits the patients.”

The League of Friends has provided equipment to Musgrove worth more than £4million, thanks to legacies and donations.

Now it is appealing for help to fund a specialised operating table and other accessories to support the robotic surgery.

Anyone who wants to donate can get information from the League of Friends website HERE or HERE.