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A small robot that can measure blood pressure, oxygen levels and weight is being tested in an NHS GP practice in Scotland, as researchers explore whether the technology could give doctors and nurses more time to focus on patients.
The three-foot-tall robot, called Teme, was tested at Erskine Medical Practice in Dundee as part of a two-day trial called HEART-POD. The project was carried out in collaboration with scientists at the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, who developed the prototype system.
The idea behind the robot is simple. Doctors and nurses often spend part of an appointment collecting basic health information. Teme is designed to help patients complete some of these routine checks before they see a healthcare professional.
During the trial, the robot guided patients through measurements including blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation and weight. It gave spoken instructions explaining what patients needed to do, such as positioning their arm correctly and using the blood pressure monitor.
After the checks were completed, the results could be printed and taken to a nurse or GP for further discussion.
The robot is not designed to diagnose patients or replace doctors and nurses. Instead, it performs simple tasks that can take up valuable time during appointments.
A total of 12 patients with cardiovascular conditions participated in the small trial.
Dr Gillian Chin, a GP at Erskine Medical Practice, believes technology like Teme could help healthcare professionals deal with growing pressure on NHS services. According to Chin, using the robot during the trial reduced consultation time by about 50%.
If routine measurements are collected before the main consultation begins, doctors and nurses may have more time to discuss a patient's symptoms, treatment and concerns. Saving time on basic checks could also potentially allow healthcare professionals to see more patients.
For patients, interacting with a robot may initially feel unusual.
Ged Cashley, 72, who receives annual health checks after experiencing a cardiac arrest in 2018, was among the patients who tried the technology. He said using the robot felt a little strange at first but became easier once he got used to it.
Feedback from patients and staff was largely positive, but the trial also highlighted some concerns.
Privacy was one of them. Some patients did not feel comfortable speaking to the robot in the waiting room because other people might be able to hear their conversation.
This highlights an important challenge for healthcare robotics. A machine may be able to perform a task successfully, but healthcare providers also need to consider whether patients feel comfortable using it and whether their personal information remains private.
Robots are not completely new to the NHS. Robot-assisted systems are already used in some surgical procedures, while artificial intelligence tools are being introduced in areas such as medical imaging and cancer detection.
However, the increasing use of robots and AI in healthcare has also raised concerns about patient confidentiality, reliability, diagnostic accuracy and the effect technology could have on healthcare jobs.
The Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland believes robots performing simple tasks could play a useful role in supporting doctors. However, it has stressed that technology should assist healthcare professionals rather than replace them, particularly because the human relationship between patients and clinicians remains an important part of healthcare.
The Royal College of Nursing in Scotland has expressed a similar position, saying technology can help nursing staff work more effectively but should be considered a support rather than a substitute for healthcare workers.
Researchers at the National Robotarium believe healthcare robots could eventually be used more widely.
Lisa Farrell, business development lead for healthcare robotics at the National Robotarium, said robotic technology is developing quickly in areas such as homes, retail and leisure, while adoption within healthcare has been slower.
The National Robotarium is involved in several small-scale healthcare projects. In addition to the Dundee GP trial, it has previously tested socially assistive robots in a hospital in Paris and plans to test robotic technology in a care home in Glasgow.
One of the challenges is moving from small trials to wider use across the health service.
Cristina Tealdi, a professor of economics and co-investigator on the project, said more national investment and real-world testing are needed to understand which technologies provide the greatest benefits to patients and the NHS.
Scotland's Health Secretary Angela Constance has said technological innovation is an important part of plans to reform health and care services. Scotland is already using or testing technologies including AI-supported physiotherapy and a national digital dermatology platform designed to help reduce waiting times and support earlier diagnosis of skin cancer.
The Teme trial offers one example of how robots could potentially help an NHS facing increasing demand. Rather than replacing healthcare professionals, robots could take responsibility for some straightforward and repetitive tasks, giving doctors and nurses more time to interact directly with patients.
However, the Dundee trial was very small, involving only 12 patients over two days. Larger and longer studies would be needed to determine whether the technology can consistently save time, provide good value and be accepted by patients across different healthcare settings.
For now, Teme provides an early look at how routine GP visits could change in the future. Patients might one day complete basic health measurements with a robot before meeting their doctor or nurse, allowing healthcare professionals to spend more of the appointment listening, discussing treatment and providing care.
