In an opinion piece, originally published by The Herald on 13 December 2024, Business Development Manager Lisa Farrell outlines how robotic technologies can be adopted to address the NHS crisis.

As the UK Government conducts its consultation on a 10-year plan for the NHS’s future, the discussion inevitably focuses on funding pressures and waiting lists. Yet in this vital debate about modernising our health service, we risk missing a transformative opportunity: robotics. This technology offers two crucial benefits – supporting our overwhelmed healthcare workers while simultaneously building a powerful new economic sector, with Scotland at its heart.

The UK’s robotics sector lags behind other G7 countries, but Scotland’s integrated health service and world-class universities, combined with an emerging robotics cluster, give us distinct advantages to change this trajectory. The National Robotarium in Edinburgh is already demonstrating this potential – developing technologies that could both support our NHS and create high-value jobs.

..we must think bigger. By positioning NHS Scotland as an “informed customer” for robotics, we could provide the secure market needed for Scottish manufacturers to scale up and innovate.

The global healthcare robotics market is projected to reach £24 billion by 2035. With strategic investment and coordinated action, Scotland could capture a significant share of this growing market while simultaneously improving our health service. This aligns with both the NHS’s needs and the UK’s broader economic interests – as a recent report from the Tony Blair Institute noted, robotics will increasingly become “the arms and legs of AI” in delivering real-world impact.

Consider the practical impacts. Automated porters are already operating in Glasgow hospitals, moving linen and equipment, and freeing up staff time. Robotic pharmacy assistants are supporting medication management, meaning humans can offer consultations and chronic medication service reviews rather than doing admin. And in Lanarkshire, social robots are being pioneered to support independent living and reduce pressure on staff. These early examples show Scotland’s potential to lead in healthcare innovation.

But we must think bigger. By positioning NHS Scotland as an “informed customer” for robotics, we could provide the secure market needed for Scottish manufacturers to scale up and innovate. This would create a virtuous cycle – as healthcare providers benefit from improved efficiency, manufacturers gain the confidence to invest in research and development.

The prize is substantial. With NHS Scotland’s annual budget exceeding £18 billion, even modest efficiency improvements through robotics could generate significant savings for reinvestment. More importantly, we could create thousands of high-skilled jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and technology, while freeing up existing healthcare staff to focus on patient care.

This isn’t just about healthcare technology though – it’s about economic transformation. By developing expertise in healthcare robotics, Scotland could export both products and knowledge globally. Our universities could attract international talent and investment. Our manufacturers could build new revenue streams.

However, this opportunity requires coordinated action between NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government, manufacturers, and research institutions. We need strategic investment in a robotics supply chain, supportive regulation that ensures patient safety while encouraging innovation, and skills development for the workforce of tomorrow.

The foundations are being laid – now we need the vision and commitment to build on them. With the right support and investment, Scotland could help pioneer how robotics transforms healthcare delivery across the UK while building a powerful new economic sector. The alternative is watching other countries seize these opportunities while we import their solutions. The choice – and the opportunity – is ours.