The UK government has announced plans to significantly expand the use of robot-assisted surgery in England, aiming for half a million procedures annually by 2035. This initiative is supported by a £100 million investment, allocated in the recent budget, to speed up the deployment of robotic systems in operating theatres.
Currently, approximately 70,000 robot-assisted surgeries are performed each year in England. Proponents of the technology suggest it offers benefits for both patients and surgeons.
Experts, including representatives from the Royal College of Surgeons England and the NHS England Robotic Surgery steering committee, are discussing the advantages and disadvantages of this technology, considering factors such as cost-effectiveness.