‘Postcode lottery’ in robotic surgery access for patients, data shows
Tim Mitchell, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) (Credit: RCS England)
NHS patients in England are facing a “postcode lottery” in access to robotic-assisted surgery, according to an analysis by the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England).
The data, published on 20 April, shows that despite national guidance from NHS England there remain major differences in how the technology is funded, distributed and used across NHS trusts in England.
Freedom of Information (FOI) data from NHS trusts reveal that there is no consistent funding model for robotic surgery with some trusts, such as Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, relying on charitable funding.
Speaking at the Future of Surgery Festival in Birmingham, Tim Mitchell, president of RCS England, said: “Robotic-assisted surgery can transform care and help reduce NHS waiting lists, but access remains a postcode lottery.
“For one of the government’s five ‘big bets’, it is extraordinary that some NHS hospitals are having to resort to local fundraising to raise vital funds.
“It’s clear from this data that there is an urgent need for more grip on where robots are located and how they are funded, to ensure robotic-assisted benefits all patients, not just those in the right postcode.”
RCS England found that access to robotic surgery varies significantly by region, with some parts of the country having far greater access to robotic systems than others.
The FOI data show that NHS trusts in the London region together have 28 systems, compared with just six in the south west NHS region and 15 in the east of England.
RCS England said that there is no national dataset on robotic surgery provision routinely available at a national level, making it difficult to plan services strategically, assess equity of access and ensure value for money as robotic surgery expands.
It is calling for the government to create a national public directory of surgical robotic systems, alongside the national robotic surgery registry that is currently being commissioned.
The college also recommends a clearer funding model including centralised capital funding, investment plans that reflect the full cost of robotic surgery, better use of existing robotic systems, and a continued focus on training, governance and patient safety.
Commenting on the report, Peter Gorham, general manager UK and Ireland at CMR Surgical, supplier of the robotic-assisted surgery system Versius, told Digital Health News: “The focus here is minimally invasive surgery, with its faster recovery, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.
“These outcomes are too important to be restricted based on where a patient lives.
“Technology is the most effective way to extend those benefits to many more NHS patients, and it is important that investment reaches the whole surgical team.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care told Digital Health News: “As set out in our 10 year health plan, the NHS is committed to the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery for an expanded range of procedures.”
According to projections from NHSE in June 2025, half a million operations will be supported by robotic surgery every year by 2035, up from 70,000 in 2023/24.
This content is sourced from www.digitalhealth.net and is shared for informational purposes only.
