The NHS 10-Year Health Plan is not holding back when it comes to its intentions for surgical robotics implementation. The benefits of RAPs are well established, with the reduced recovery times due to better precision and reduced blood loss, meaning shorter hospital stays resulting in reduced surgery waiting lists.
As of 2023-24, NHS England states that there are about 70,000 robot-assisted procedures (RAP) per year, and the government body wants to see this rise to 500,000 by 2035. The body also aims to perform 9 in 10 keyhole surgeries with robot assistance within the next 10 years.
The question is, is this realistic? Well, Donald et al. (2026) wrote in Surgical Endoscopy that in 2014 only ~20% of NHS Trusts had robotic systems, whereas in 2024, it had risen to ~67%. Tripling in 10 years.
Antonio Herrera from Portescap backs this finding and says that, from a component manufacturer’s point of view, they are seeing increasing demand from their OEM (original equipment manufacturer) clients. As these OEMs grow, so does Portescap, and from this perspective, Herrera has a unique take on the growing industry.
What is the reality of RAPs today?
In most parts of the world, it is usual for the private sector to be early adopters of technology and the scaling of it. The risk tolerance of these businesses is greater than for a national health service, and as Herrera points out, less evidence is needed to prove tangible benefits before justifying the large capital investment. In other words, fewer hoops to jump. As such, these private companies can be at the forefront of innovation.
In 2026, most of the surgical devices in use support two types of procedures, orthopaedic and general surgery. For the orthopaedic applications, devices often support positions of powered tools in surgeries for the hips, knees, and spine. For general surgery on soft tissue, these devices support common laparoscopic procedures.
These are the types of procedures that are now making their way into the NHS. The 2026 article also backs this, saying urology, general surgery, and gynaecology accounted for 90% of NHS RAPs.
However, the wheel keeps on turning, and now robotics are pushing into other fields of medicine, and Herrera explains that innovation is opening options for Bronchoscopy and Cardiovascular procedures. These are being supported by miniaturised robotic-assisted navigation.
If the same cycle repeats again, we might soon see these additional applications become more commonplace in the NHS in the coming years.
Standardisation in surgical robotics across the NHS
Within the NHS, there are some facilities and services that are more innovation-friendly than others, beyond just the application. Herrera explains that
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