https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/11/21/sunak-tells-nhs-embrace-robot-workers-prepares-sack-staff/Sunak tells NHS to embrace robot workers as it prepares to sack staff
Prime Minister pledges to ‘radically innovate’ health service to drive up economic growth
By Szu Ping Chan 21 November 2022 • 6:07pm
Rishi Sunak CBI
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivered a keynote speech at the CBI conference on Monday CREDIT: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Rishi Sunak has urged the NHS to embrace the use of robots as the health service prepares to cut its workforce by half in a drastic attempt to cut costs.
The Prime Minister said supporting innovation was a "defining focus" of his premiership, as he described more automation and investment in robotics as "low hanging fruit" that will drive up pay and economic growth "quickly". "If we can get that right with more robotics and automation, then we can drive up productivity. It reduces some of the pressure on labour, and creates good jobs for people," he told an audience of business leaders in Birmingham.
It came as Mr Sunak pledged to "radically innovate" Britain's health service with new technologies in a “bold" move that would challenge "conventional wisdom” in healthcare reform. Ministers are drawing up plans to slash NHS England’s 6,500 bureaucrats by as much as half and to remove a swathe of targets to allow hospitals more control over how money is spent.
Mr Sunak told the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference that "better care requires innovation" in drugs and new technologies. The Prime Minister also ruled out closer trade ties with the European Union if it means following diktats from Brussels, but signalled that the Government would open the door to more highly skilled migrants to boost the economy.
In the clearest indication yet that the UK will not seek a Swiss-style deal that relies on following European rules, the Prime Minister said regulatory freedom was one of the biggest benefits of leaving the bloc. "Let me be unequivocal about this," he said. "Under my leadership, I will not pursue any relationship with Europe that relies on alignment with EU laws." Mr Sunak also said that Brexit had enabled "proper control of our borders", vowing to tackle illegal immigration and "give the British people trust and confidence that the system works and is fair."
He said: "I voted for Brexit. I believe in Brexit and I know that Brexit can deliver, and is already delivering, enormous benefits and opportunities for the country. Migration being an immediate one, where we have proper control of our borders and are able to have a conversation with our country about the type of migration that we want and need." The Government is relying on a surge in net migration to help drive growth as innovation slows. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicted net migration would settle at 205,000 a year from 2026 onwards. This is significantly higher than the Home Secretary Suella Braverman's long-term goal to reduce net migration to below 100,000.
Growing NHS waiting lists have left a record 2.5m people unable to work because of long-term sickness, with an extra 133,000 people falling out of the workforce for health reasons in the three months to September alone. The Prime Minister also said it was important that UK rules governing financial services and trade were "fit for the future". He added: "Having the regulatory freedom to do that is an important opportunity of Brexit." Andy Briggs, chief executive of insurance giant Phoenix Group, which owns Standard Life, said EU red tape has contributed to an investment deficit in the UK. He said: "Pension saving in the UK is the second largest in the world at £3.4 trillion. But only 7pc is invested in [UK] productive assets. The average for the seven largest nations globally is 19pc." Mr Briggs said the Government's decision to depart from EU rules governing insurers would free up to £50bn of capital to invest in the UK economy. "The regulations were getting in the way of that, and those regulations are being changed," he said.
Mr Sunak also noted that the UK was in discussions about joining a global trade pact with some of the world's biggest economies, including Canada and Japan. He described the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was signed in 2018, as a "fantastic opportunity for the UK."
So they want to replace staff with robots.
Okay they don't have to pay wages and pension.
The staff like nurses from what I read are working really hard and beyond on an already overstretched service. They actually work. I'd expect them to only bring in robots to assist not to replace an already overstretched workforce let alone tried and tested or has it?
Actually I see there is one:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-57756988NHS hospital uses robot technology
The NHS is facing unprecedented challenges with long waiting lists for treatment and staff shortages.
But could robots be part of the solution?
A hospital in Bristol is already using robots to improve efficiency in some behind the scenes roles and is now experimenting with how robots might interact with patients
On the other hand how much are these robots going to cost in buying them and maintaining them.
Doesn't sound right to me cutting staff under a pledge to save money but willing to "buy" electronic substitutes and I don't see anything about the costings yet.
https://www.mylondon.news/news/health/london-hospital-robots-costing-18-21282182The London hospital where robots costing £1.8 million are carrying out surgery
Surgeons predict that within ten years robotic surgery will be used in every hospital
Surgical robots are changing how NHS hospitals operate by cutting recovery times and improving outcomes - but the equipment comes with a hefty price tag. Surgeons predict that within 10 years standard surgery as we know it will die out. Machines will become the norm as patients will demand them due to the improved quality of surgery they provide.
The machines used to be called master slave systems, which - for obvious reasons - is no longer allowed, but it explains the principle behind them. The surgeon sits in a seat, which they call a console, and moves their hands to control the machinery.
The robot hands mimic the movements, translating larger movements of human hands into much smaller movements of miniature instruments inside the patient. So far there are 115 Intuitive da Vinci surgical systems across the country. All of which operate on prostate cancer and 70 per cent can perform kidney and bladder surgery. There is also an increase in mechanical operations of hysterectomy and more thoracic surgery in the lungs and general surgery work including bowel surgery.
Explaining the benefits of robotic surgery, he said: “The robot allows the surgeon to have more precision, dexterity, less tremor and ultimately, in most cases, that will equate to a higher quality of surgery in terms of better cancer outcomes.
Sounds like claims to me. I expect the surgeon to be skilled and know how to handle the instruments and how can they just make these claims that it will be more precise, will results in high quality surgery. I remembered when they tried something like this with mesh surgery to speed up surgery times and it did work but with the plastic deteriorating many years later and patients begging to have it removed.

Surgeon -> knife -> skin. (touch and feel)
to
Surgeon -> Joystick -> knife -> skin (no touch and feel)
So surgeon has to control not just the knife but the robot handling the knife.
Also are they not going to feel anything for other signs as they operate?
(I was told they do this for observations correct me if you think I am wrong)
If it is used just to "save" money with these claims and I don't trust it.
https://www.intuitive.com/en-gb/products-and-services/da-vinci/systems
Just found this:
https://www.autoaccident.com/da-vinci-robotic-surgical-system-injuries-and-deaths.htmlPhysical Injuries Caused by the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System
Breakdown of Adverse Incidents
A breakdown of the adverse events recorded by the FDA are as follows:
2,000 total adverse events that involved injury to the patient
17,000 events due to da Vinci Robotic Surgical System malfunction
294 fatalities
Improper Marketing
The FDA issued a warning letter for the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System in 2013 for improper marketing. This concerned its uses for thyroid surgery.
Poor Training of Surgeons
One of the major problems associated with the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System is the number of training surgeons undergo
Attached the whole page to image file:
What do you think?