A “revolutionary” device named RefluxStop has been implanted in UK patients to treat severe acid reflux, impacting 20% of the UK's adult population. University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and Imperial College London are the first NHS trusts to adopt this method, with Southampton pioneering robotic surgery for the procedure. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) causes stomach contents to flow back into the oesophagus, leading to symptoms like heartburn, regurgitation, and difficulty swallowing. RefluxStop, a 25mm silicone implant, restores the lower oesophageal sphincter to its natural position, preventing acid leakage. It is fitted via robotic-assisted keyhole surgery, taking less than two hours. Danielle Harding, the first patient to undergo this procedure at UHS, reported her symptoms have "completely disappeared" since the surgery. Consultant surgeon Fergus Noble described RefluxStop as a minimally invasive, side-effect-free solution, offering new hope for patients with severe acid reflux.