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Surgery · UK

Robotic surgery - the surgeon still does the operation.

Robot-assisted surgery across urology, gynaecology, colorectal, hernia and thoracic. A named high-volume consultant, an honest comparison to laparoscopic and open, and cover checked before booking.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private robotic surgery costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£17,000–£25,000, home in 1–2 nights.

Procedure Indicative range
Robotic hysterectomy £11,000–£18,000
Robotic prostatectomy (RARP) £17,000–£25,000
Robotic cystectomy £28,000–£45,000
Robotic partial nephrectomy £14,000–£22,000
Robotic colorectal resection £16,000–£26,000
Robotic ventral hernia repair £8,500–£14,000
Consultant robotic opinion £300–£500

Prices vary by hospital, by the consultant, by platform, and by whether cancer resection includes lymph nodes and reconstruction. Cancer cases with reconstruction sit at the top of the range.

The problem

The right platform, the right surgeon, and the honest comparison.

Robotic marketing is loud. The three things patients rarely hear: the surgeon’s volume matters more than the brand, laparoscopic often does the same job, and cover is not automatic.

  • Volume beats platform

    A high-volume laparoscopic surgeon beats a low-volume robotic surgeon on the same operation.

  • Robot or laparoscopic - is there really a difference?

    For prostate, deep pelvic and complex hysterectomy: yes. For many general surgery cases: no. We say which is which.

  • Cover is not automatic

    Some insurers cap at the laparoscopic tariff and expect a top-up for the robotic platform fee.

When it helps

Where robotic surgery earns its keep.

The situations where the robot changes outcomes, plus the red flag that means open is still the right operation.

  • Pelvic cancer surgery

    Prostate, bladder, uterus, cervix, rectum - the pelvis is where robotic dexterity earns its keep. Nerve-sparing prostatectomy is the textbook example.

  • Complex hysterectomy

    Large fibroids, endometriosis, prior caesareans or obesity - the robot handles the adhesions and deep pelvic dissection more comfortably than straight-stick laparoscopy.

  • Partial nephrectomy

    Small-mass kidney tumours where preserving nephron function matters. Warm ischaemia times are shorter with a skilled console surgeon.

  • Colorectal resection

    Low anterior resection for rectal cancer and total mesorectal excision - the robot reaches deep into the pelvis where laparoscopy struggles.

  • Hiatus hernia and reflux surgery

    Nissen fundoplication, paraoesophageal repair - the wristed instruments make suturing in a tight space more forgiving.

  • Ventral and inguinal hernia repair

    Especially for larger defects and previously repaired hernias where the plane is scarred.

  • Thoracic surgery (RATS)

    Lung wedge resection, lobectomy, thymectomy - a separate detailed page covers robotic-assisted thoracic surgery.

  • Red flag: no robotic option fits every case

    For very large tumours, ruptured pathology or unstable patients, open surgery is still the safest route. Beware anyone who says the robot is always better.

Platform options

Not every platform is right for every case.

The four soft-tissue systems used in the UK plus how robotic compares to laparoscopic and open.

  • da Vinci Xi

    The dominant UK platform. Four arms, versatile across specialties, mature training pathways. Most private robotic surgery in the UK is on Xi.

  • da Vinci SP

    Single-port system for narrow anatomy - transoral, transanal, some urology. Limited UK footprint but growing.

  • CMR Versius

    UK-designed modular system. Smaller footprint, portable arms, expanding across NHS and private units for gynaecology, urology and general surgery.

  • Medtronic Hugo

    Modular platform with open architecture. Newer to the UK; installed in a handful of centres.

  • Orthopaedic robotics - Mako, ROSA, Cori, Navio

    A separate category - see the robotic orthopaedic surgery, ROSA knee and Cori knee pages for detail.

  • Robot-assisted vs autonomous

    Every surgical robot in UK practice is surgeon-controlled. The surgeon operates the console; the robot amplifies precision but does not act on its own.

  • Robotic vs laparoscopic

    For many operations the two are clinically equivalent - the robot adds dexterity and a 3D view but costs more. Volume of the surgeon matters more than the platform.

  • Robotic vs open

    Robotic wins on blood loss, hospital stay and return to work. Open still wins on speed, cost and access to very large or ruptured pathology.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Robotic surgery is mature technology. The things worth planning are anaesthetic tolerance, enhanced-recovery targets and - for cancer cases - the histology conversation.

  • GA, sometimes in steep Trendelenburg

    Pelvic robotic surgery uses head-down positioning that raises intraocular and airway pressures. Anaesthetic assessment matters - glaucoma, severe reflux and morbid obesity need care.

  • Conversion to open

    Bleeding, dense adhesions or unexpected anatomy sometimes force conversion. It happens in under 3 percent of experienced-hand cases and is not a failure - it is a safety call.

  • Port-site injury and hernia

    Injury to bowel, bladder or vessels at port insertion is rare (well under 1 percent). Port-site hernia is a small later risk, particularly at 12 mm ports.

  • Position-related nerve injury

    Long cases in Trendelenburg can cause brachial plexus stretch or peroneal compression if positioning is careless. A dedicated theatre team gets this right.

  • Platform failure

    True robotic failure mid-case is very rare. Every UK unit has laparoscopic conversion trained and rehearsed - the surgeon does not stop the operation.

  • Recovery is faster, not painless

    Enhanced-recovery makes discharge quicker but you will still be sore for a week. Take the discharge painkillers as prescribed; do not push through.

  • Return to driving and work

    Driving usually 1–2 weeks; desk work 1–3 weeks; heavy manual work 6 weeks. Cancer resections have longer curves - plan the diary properly.

  • Cost is real

    Robotic instruments are single-use, the platform is expensive, and theatre time is longer. The premium is genuine - insurance often covers it, self-pay quotes it separately.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Fever above 38.5, spreading redness, severe abdominal pain, breathlessness or calf swelling: same-day team or A&E, not a routine call.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever platform was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant surgeon reviewing a patient's operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the operation note and the histology before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Platform, ports and console time

    Which robot, which surgeon at the console, how many ports, docking time and total console time.

  2. 02 Technique

    Anatomy, adhesions, dissection

    What the surgeon saw, whether nerve-sparing or vessel-sparing was possible, blood loss, and any adhesiolysis.

  3. 03 Findings

    Specimen and margins

    For cancer: tumour location, size, and - after histology - margin status. For benign disease: what was removed and any concurrent procedure.

  4. 04 Impression

    Plan, follow-up, MDT

    Read this first: enhanced-recovery targets, next MDT date, imaging timeline and rehab plan.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Robotic surgery is usually covered when the procedure has an approved indication.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about robotic surgery.

Quick answers on platforms, evidence, cost, cover and recovery.

  • Is robotic surgery actually better than laparoscopic?

    For some operations - nerve-sparing prostatectomy, deep pelvic rectal surgery, complex hysterectomy - the evidence points to real advantages in blood loss, hospital stay and, for prostate, continence and potency outcomes. For many other operations, robotic and laparoscopic outcomes are equivalent and the choice comes down to what your surgeon does best. Volume of the surgeon matters more than the badge on the platform.

  • Is a robot autonomous - does it operate by itself?

    No. Every surgical robot in UK clinical practice is fully surgeon-controlled. The surgeon sits at a console and moves master controls; the robot arms mirror those movements inside you. Nothing moves without a surgeon’s hand on the controls.

  • What is the difference between da Vinci, Versius and Hugo?

    da Vinci Xi is the mature market leader - most UK robotic surgery is done on it. Versius (CMR Surgical, UK) is modular and growing across NHS and private units. Hugo (Medtronic) is newer and installed in a handful of centres. Clinically, in experienced hands, the outcomes are comparable - the surgeon is more important than the platform.

  • How much does private robotic surgery cost in the UK?

    Roughly £8,500–£14,000 for a robotic ventral hernia, £11,000–£18,000 for hysterectomy, £14,000–£22,000 for partial nephrectomy, £17,000–£25,000 for prostatectomy, £16,000–£26,000 for colorectal resection and £28,000–£45,000 for cystectomy. The premium over laparoscopic is real - expensive instruments and longer theatre time.

  • How long is recovery after robotic surgery?

    Faster than open, similar to laparoscopic. Hospital stay is usually 1–3 nights for most robotic operations (5–8 for cystectomy). Desk work 1–3 weeks, driving 1–2 weeks, heavy lifting at 6 weeks. Cancer resections need longer.

  • Will my insurance cover a robotic operation?

    Most UK insurers now cover robotic surgery for approved indications - prostate, kidney, colorectal, gynaecology - but need pre-authorisation. Some still cap at the laparoscopic tariff and expect you to top up the platform fee.

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