In a groundbreaking move to combat soaring waiting lists, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has received approval to expand its use of robotic surgery systems to 11 different procedures. This “surgical milestone” comes as the health service seeks innovative ways to reduce a backlog of 7.4 million patients and accelerate post-operative recovery. 

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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) greenlit the deployment of surgical robots for knee and hip replacements, tumor removals, hernia repairs, and gallbladder extractions at select NHS centers. These procedures, some of the most common across the system, will now benefit from robotic precision—reducing complications, shortening hospital stays, and freeing up capacity. 

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Costing between £500,000 and £1.5 million, these robotic systems—such as the da Vinci Surgical System—allow surgeons to operate using mechanical arms controlled from a nearby console. The enhanced dexterity and stability minimize the risk of human error and allow for more minimally invasive approaches. 

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NHS leaders and health tech experts heralded the decision as a vital step toward modernizing surgical care. Dr. Anastasia Chalkidou of NICE described the robots as having the “potential to transform both soft tissue and orthopaedic surgical care.” Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, emphasized that robotic-assisted surgery will be a “vital element” in the NHS’s upcoming ten-year plan, citing benefits like quicker recoveries and system-wide efficiencies. 

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To ensure safe and effective adoption, national guidance on configuring and implementing robotic surgery programs will be released later this month. Workforce training and equitable access are also key priorities as the NHS scales this innovation nationwide. 

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As hospitals look to rebound from COVID-era backlogs and an aging population, robotic-assisted surgery may prove to be a turning point in how healthcare is delivered—faster, safer, and with greater precision. 

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Source: Eleanor Hayward, The Times, “Robot surgeons on standby for more operations to cut NHS waits” 
Published April 17, 2025 
Read the full article on The Times 

Robot surgeons on standby for more operations to cut NHS waits