Overview

• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved 11 robotic surgery systems for NHS use under a three-year early value assessment programme.
• The systems include five for soft tissue surgeries, such as tumour removal and hernia repairs, and six for orthopaedic procedures, including knee and hip replacements.
• Robotic-assisted surgeries aim to reduce hospital stays, speed up recovery times, and lower the risk of complications, while enabling less invasive procedures.
• Each system costs between £500,000 and £1.5 million and will be deployed in specialist centres to gather data on clinical outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and training needs.
• This initiative aligns with the Government's upcoming 10-year NHS health plan, which emphasizes digital transformation and expanded access to innovative care.