The NHS is preparing to significantly increase its use of robotic surgery in a bid to reduce waiting times and improve patient outcomes. Under new plans, the number of operations assisted by robots will rise sharply, with procedures such as cancer treatments, joint replacements, and gynaecological surgeries increasingly carried out using robotic technology.

By 2035, it’s expected that up to 500,000 procedures annually will involve robotic assistance, a major leap from the current 70,000. The technology allows for greater precision, faster recovery times, and shorter hospital stays, offering major benefits to both patients and the wider health system. Experts also note that robotic assistance reduces physical strain on surgeons and could lead to more operations being performed daily.

Currently used in a limited number of surgeries, robotic systems are forecast to become the norm for most keyhole procedures over the next decade. NICE has already approved their use in various soft tissue and orthopaedic operations, and there is strong backing from cancer charities for the potential to speed up treatment pathways.

However, health leaders have warned that this progress hinges on significant investment. Without urgent capital funding to support the rollout of robotic systems and upgrade hospital infrastructure, the NHS risks leaving many patients behind as it strives to modernise surgical care.