Eleven cutting-edge robotic surgery systems have been approved for use, potentially transforming care for thousands of NHS patients undergoing soft tissue and orthopaedic procedures.

The technology, which is capable of movements more precise than the human hand, has the potential to transform care for patients being operated on by surgeons in specialist NHS centres.

According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) research, patient committees said that faster recovery times, shorter hospital stays and quicker return to work were the biggest benefits of robotic surgery. Patients also reported experiencing less pain and reduced scarring compared with traditional surgery.

The 11 systems can be used while further evidence is collected over the next three years demonstrating their cost-effectiveness for robot-assisted surgery, as part of NICE’s Early Value Assessment process.

Five systems for soft tissue procedures – such as hernia repair, removal of tumours, and gallbladder removal – and 6 for orthopaedic surgery – such as full and partial knee replacement procedures and hip replacements – have received conditional approval.

The use of robotic systems for prostatectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the prostate gland, either fully or partially, is outside the scope of these two pieces of guidance and already established practice in the NHS.

The recommendations will allow a coordinated approach to the expansion of innovative surgical technologies so that the NHS can maximise the benefits for patients.

At the same time, evidence will be collected to help the NICE committee validate these benefits to prove the technologies’ value and inform future implementation decisions.

Some robotic systems allow surgeons to perform procedures using mechanical arms controlled from a nearby console, while others are handheld.

The surgical instruments attached to these arms can move with greater dexterity than the human hand, offering greater precision. They improve recovery times, reduce complications, and potentially increasing access to these procedures.

“These innovative technologies have the potential to transform both soft tissue and orthopaedic surgical care in the NHS,” Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, programme director of NICE‘s healthtech programme.

“The data gathered over the next three years will allow us to evaluate exactly how these technologies can improve patient care and help ensure NHS resources are directed toward interventions that deliver meaningful clinical benefits and long-term value to our health service.

“Robot-assisted surgery may help overcome key limitations of conventional techniques through precise movements and enhanced 3D visualisation, potentially transforming surgical options and outcomes for NHS patients. Both applications could benefit patients who might not otherwise be candidates for minimally invasive approaches.”

The robot systems each cost between £500,000 and £1.5m and are typically only found in specialist centres which perform hundreds of procedures annually.

In 2011/12, only 20% of robotic procedures were for conditions other than urological cancer. By 2023/24, this had grown to 49%, with significant expansion in colorectal surgery, which now accounts for 25% of all robotic procedures.

Orthopaedic robot-assisted surgery has seen the fastest rise, growing from approximately 300 procedures in 2018/19 to more than 4,000 last year.

In 2011/12, only 20% of robotic procedures were for conditions other than urological cancer. By 2023/24, this had grown to 49%, with significant expansion in colorectal surgery, which now accounts for 25% of all robotic procedures.

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“This is fantastic news for patients and shows that the NHS continues to find new ways to utilise the latest technological innovations to improve care,”Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said. “This will be a vital element of the 10 Year Health Plan which will be published in the coming months.

“Robot-assisted surgery is crucial to the future of high-quality healthcare – and with benefits including shorter stays in hospital, faster recovery for patients and less invasive procedures these advancements will have a knock-on effect throughout the system and help patients get treated quicker.

“This is an important step forward as we continue to work to ensure everyone is able to get high quality care when they need it.”

John McGrath, consultant urological surgeon at North Bristol NHS Trust, and chair of NHSE Steering Committee for Robotic Assisted Surgery said: “This is a further milestone in surgical innovation, and we are currently working hard to develop a national strategy that ensures patients across the country are able to access this treatment when they need it, regardless of location.

“Later this month, we will release the first national guidance for the NHS in England that describes how robotic programmes should be configured, implemented and delivered as the services scale up.

“A key aspect in this is ensuring the necessary increase in expertise in robot-assisted surgery across the NHS workforce, so this technology can have the greatest possible impact for patients.”