Eleven state-of-the-art robotic surgery systems have been approved for use across the NHS, marking a major step forward in surgical technology for patients undergoing soft tissue and orthopaedic procedures. The decision, announced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is expected to benefit thousands of patients with faster recovery times, shorter hospital stays, and reduced complications. But what does this mean for NHS Scotland, which has already invested heavily in robotic-assisted surgery?
NICE has conditionally approved five robotic systems for soft tissue procedures—such as hernia repair, tumour removal, and gallbladder surgery—and six for orthopaedic operations, including knee and hip replacements. The approved systems include:
- Soft Tissue Procedures: Da Vinci SP, Da Vinci X and Xi, Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery System, Senhance Surgical System, Versius Surgical System
- Orthopaedic Procedures: Apollo Knee System, CORI Surgical System, Mako SmartRobotics, ROSA Knee Solution, SkyWalker Robotic-assisted technology, VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution
Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, programme director of NICE’s HealthTech programme, commented:
“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.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said:
“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.”
NHS Scotland has been a leader in adopting robotic-assisted surgery. Since 2021, the Scottish Government has invested nearly £20 million in acquiring 12 additional da Vinci surgical systems, more than tripling the number of such robots in the country. These systems are now in use at major hospitals including Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and others across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, NHS Tayside, NHS Grampian, NHS Fife, NHS Golden Jubilee, and NHS Highland.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said:
“Surgical robots have transformed the experience of surgery for a number of patients across NHS Scotland, as well as easing the pressure on surgeons, with procedures that are less physically demanding to carry out. Crucially, by providing more opportunities for surgeons to carry out robotic-assisted procedures we can attract a broader pool of surgeons to work here, helping us build a stronger NHS Scotland for the future.”
Professor Campbell Roxburgh, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Royal Infirmary, added:
“Thanks to the Scottish Government’s continued investment in this cutting edge technology and its ongoing implementation across the nation, we are now realising what we set out to achieve through the expansion – we have vastly reduced rates of open surgery and we have improved equity of access to robotic-assisted surgery and its associated outcomes for patients.”
Impact on NHS Scotland
The NICE approval primarily sets a standard for NHS England, but Scotland’s health boards are already well advanced in deploying robotic surgical systems—particularly the da Vinci platform, which is among those approved by NICE.
Scottish hospitals have reported significant benefits, including:
- A reduction in open surgeries from around 70% to 30% in three years
- Halved average hospital stays for patients
- Fewer complications and improved recovery
Professor Graham Mackay, clinical lead at the West of Scotland Cancer Centre, noted that “significant benefits from RAS are being observed across Scotland.”
While the NICE decision does not automatically mandate adoption in Scotland, it is likely to reinforce existing programmes and could pave the way for the introduction of newer systems beyond the da Vinci, such as Hugo, Senhance, Versius, and various orthopaedic robots. However, expansion will depend on further investment and evidence of cost-effectiveness.
The NICE approval of 11 systems may not immediately change the landscape in Scotland, but it validates the direction of travel and could support future adoption of a wider range of robotic technologies as evidence accumulates.
