ROBOTIC surgery is to be rolled out on the NHS after its spending watchdog said it is better for patients.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has approved the use of 11 surgical machines.
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They can perform operations including hernia repairs, organ removals, hip and knee replacements, and cancer treatment.
Surgeons control tiny scalpels and other tools on robotic arms that enter the body through keyhole cuts and are far more precise than human hands.
This means there is less damage to the body and patients recover faster.
Nice said people experience less pain and scarring compared to traditional ops and can get back to work quicker.
The hi-tech machines cost between £500,000 and £1.5million.
The Royal College of Surgeons called the move a “significant step forward”.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, of NHS England, said: “Robot-assisted surgery is crucial to the future of high-quality healthcare.”
Robotic surgery has been done on the NHS for more than a decade but its use is not yet widespread.
