NHS plans to cut waitlist times by expanding access to robotic surgeries - The Robot Report

The NHS of England has announced ambitious plans to significantly expand the use of robotic surgery over the next decade to reduce waiting times and improve patient outcomes. By 2035, the NHS aims to perform half a million robotic operations annually, a substantial increase from 70,000 in 2023-2024. Robotic surgery, particularly in keyhole procedures, is expected to become the default approach for 90% of such surgeries, up from 20% today. This expansion is part of the NHS’s broader commitment to shorten elective waiting times by 2029, leveraging advanced technology to increase surgical capacity, enhance precision, and promote faster patient recovery with shorter hospital stays. Robotic surgery offers several advantages over traditional methods, including greater dexterity for surgeons and less physical strain, as surgeons operate instruments via a console with 3D visualization. The technology has broadened beyond its initial focus on urological cancer surgeries to include colorectal, gynecological, ENT, and orthopedic procedures. Some robotic systems