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Millions to benefit from NHS robot drive
Millions of patients will benefit from cutting-edge NHS robotic surgery over the next decade as part of radical plans to cut waiting times. Half a million operations will be supported with
this approach, every year by 2035, up from 70,000 in 2023/24, according to NHS projections. 9 in 10 of all keyhole surgeries, such as the
removal of certain organs affected by cancer, will be delivered with robot assistance within the next 10 years, up from 1 in 5 today, with robot-assisted surgery being the default for many operations. The NHS also expects to see increasing numbers
of emergency operations using the space-age tech – which can be more precise than the human hand. The new NHS England forecast follows the publication of its first ever national guidance on how robotic programmes should be delivered. Sir Jim Mackey, NHS Chief Executive, said: “The NHS has pledged to return to shorter elective waiting times by 2029 and we are using every tool at our disposal to ensure patients get the best possible treatment. “Expanding the use of new and exciting tech
such as robotic surgery will play a huge part in this. “Not only does it speed up the number of
procedures the NHS can do, but it also means better outcomes, a faster recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients”. Compared to traditional keyhole surgery,
robotic surgery allows greater dexterity and is easier to manipulate, as the instruments are controlled by a surgeon at a console using a 3D camera. In orthopaedic robot procedures, the robot is programmed to perform elements of the procedure.
approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) while they undergo further evaluation, meaning the use of this technology can be expanded further across the NHS to help thousands more patients. John McGrath, Consultant Surgeon at North
Patients undergoing surgery involving robots
are able to recover quicker and be discharged sooner, with some bladder cancer patients leaving hospital in just five days – half the expected time with traditional open surgery. In recent years, the range of operations involving robots has widened – in 2011/12 urological cancer surgery made up 80%, but by 2023/24 this relative proportion dropped to 44%, even though the number of operations had increased, as there was significant growth in areas such as colorectal, gynaecology, ear, nose and throat, and orthopaedic procedures. Five systems for soft tissue procedures, such as hernia repair, removal of tumours, and gallbladder removal, and six for orthopaedic surgery, such as full and partial knee replacement procedures and hip replacements, have received conditional
Bristol NHS Trust, and Chair of the NHS England Steering Committee for Robotic Assisted Surgery, said: “Robot-assisted surgery is a perfect example of innovation improving patients’ care and transforming the way the NHS works – the number of procedures being carried is set to rapidly grow over the next 10 years according to our analysis. “As keyhole surgery continues to develop and scale up in the NHS, it is likely that many of these procedures will be provided with degrees of robot assistance in the future – importantly as the costs come down and efficient patient pathways are embedded in robotic programmes. “Faster recovery and shorter hospital stays are
not only hugely important benefits for patients undergoing surgery; if used efficiently they can have a positive impact on the rest of the system by relieving pressure on services and therefore helping to reduce waiting times. Robot-assisted surgery can also make complex operations less physically demanding for surgeons, with the potential to reduce strain on surgical teams, allowing a greater number of complex surgeries to be carried out each day. The approval of 11 systems by NICE was a milestone in the continuing development of this technology and our newly-published national strategy will help ensure patients across the country are able to access this treatment when they need it, regardless of location.”
News
Breast surgery as day surgery: a virtual conference
A wide range of breast procedures, including many oncoplastic surgeries, can be delivered as a day case with good clinical outcomes and excellent patient experience. Despite these benefits, significant variation in day surgery performance persists nationally, usually, because of misperceptions that such practice is unsafe or requires complicated service reconfiguration. The number of patients waiting for elective surgery now is at record levels, the highest in the history of the NHS. Day-case management is a safe, efficient pathway for delivering breast cancer surgery and is liked by cancer patients and their families. Maximising day case rates is therefore a key component of the government’s Elective Recovery Plan and will release valuable inpatient resources.
A one-day virtual conference, produced by the British Association of Day Surgery, is set to provide an opportunity to share learning about successful day-case breast surgery and showcase what can be achieved, including key aspects of the day surgery pathway, current guidance and using data in its successful delivery. Taking place on 17 September, the conference will enable you to: l Learn from outstanding practice in day case breast surgery.
l Identify key strategies for implementation of day case breast surgery.
l Ensure you are up to date with the latest national practice and recommendations.
l Self-assess and reflect on your own practice. l Support your CPD professional development
and provide revalidation evidence. This course provides five hours training for CPD subject to peer group approval for revalidation purposes.
Topics include: Optimising your day surgery pathway; older people undergoing day-case breast cancer surgery; awake day case breast surgery; using the Model Hospital data to improve the day surgery delivery; anaesthetic considerations for improving the delivery of day case breast surgery; implementing a new oncoplastic day surgery service, and much more… To view the full programme and to register, visit:
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.
co.uk/virtual-online-courses/breast-surgery-as- day-surgery
l l July 2025 I
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com 9
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