§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice is available to NHS trusts on the medical and cost benefits of using medical robotics; [22145]
(2) what assessment he has made of the cost benefits of expanding the use of medical robotics in the national health service; [22144]
166W(3) if he will make a statement on the use of medical robotics in the national health service. [22143]
§ Jacqui SmithThe application of robotics to diagnosis and clinical care in the national health service, as in other health care systems, is at an early stage. The safety, cost effectiveness and acceptability of robotics in medicine will need to be evaluated by the NHS Technology Assessment programme, the Medical Devices Agency and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, before large scale introduction.