The Operating Theatre Journal Digital Edition September 2018

The future is now: a fifth of Brits
believe we’re already co-existing
with robots, new survey finds
Public attitudes to robots living and working with people polled ahead of
UK Robotics Week
A fifth of UK adults polled ahead of UK Robotics Week believe we’re
already co-existing in harmony with robots in the UK, a new survey has
found, while nearly a quarter believe that there is much more scope for
robots to be included in everyday society. The research, commissioned
by the EPSRC UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems (UK-RAS) Network,
was released for UK Robotics Week, which returned from 21st – 29th June
2018.
20 per cent of a representative sample of UK adults think that we are
already at the point of living in harmony with robotics technology and
autonomous machines (1) , and 24% of those surveyed believe that there is
more scope for robots to become part of our day-to-day lives.
The survey reports that over one in three (35%) people polled would
feel comfortable with having robots around the house. The survey also
revealed some interesting perceptions about the limits of what robots
should and should not be allowed to do. Almost a quarter (22%) have
suggested that there should be some ethical laws around the work robots
can do, and over one in ten (13%) agree there should be an upper limit on
the number of hours robots can work per day.
Significant growth is forecast in the global robotics industry and it’s not
gone unnoticed among the British public, with 20% saying the UK industry
has progressively ‘massively’ over the last few years and will continue
to advance. A further 24% of 55-year-olds have said they consider robots
and robotics to be of huge benefit to society, demonstrating that positive
public perceptions of robotics cross age boundaries.
Other key findings from the research include:
- Over a fifth of people (21%) would feel comfortable with a robot
delivering food or packages to their houses
- Almost one in ten would feel comfortable having a robot perform
surgery (8%)
“The top measures reasons Sir respondents Bruce Keogh would outlined feel during comfortable his speech with last night robot
assistance will be instrumental are: in supporting healthcare professionals to identify
the early signs and enable them to act, Health Education England’s new
education - because and a robot training doesn’t materials get tired will so be would particularly be able to relevant work longer as will than a
clinical humans network (36.8%) approach to care where professionals and organisations
work - the together ability to across program a dened robots geographical to do tasks exactly area – as this required helps to (33.9%) bring
a - no safe, involvement standardised of emotions and equitable that could approach interfere to care. with tasks (32.1%)
Commenting on the release of the survey results, Professor Guang-Zhong
Yang “As a of college, Imperial we College have updated London and the Chair national of the template EPSRC for UK-RAS the Personal Network,
said: Child “The Health survey Record results to include demonstrate information that the for general parents public on how is to clearly tell
engaged if your child in thinking is ill, and quite for deeply health about professionals, advances have in robotics recently technology, launched
and Paediatric what it Care means Online for society (PCO-UK) and the – an future online of decision how we support live and tool, work.
This providing is exactly specialist the type diagnostic of engagement advice and to help dialogue ensure that children the UK get Robotics the
Week right initiative treatment was at the set earliest up to progress, opportunity. and we’re looking forward to the
coming week of national activities and its many opportunities to continue
that discussion.”
“To support this, I now urge paediatricians and all healthcare
Now professionals in its third to year, utilise UK the Robotics resources Week Sir Bruce saw robotics-focused has outlined. Collectively activities
taking we can place slow down up and the down grip of the this country, deadly spanning disease and lectures, reduce conferences,
the number
hackathons, of children who and come open face days. to face In what with has it.” become the centrepiece of
UK Robotics Week, the International Robotics Showcase in Liverpool on
Thursday 21st June featured exclusive talks by world-renowned experts
in
Louise
science
Silverton,
and technology,
Director for
plus
Midwifery
lively panel
at
discussions
the Royal College
and debate
of
covering
Midwives,
the
said:
ethical,
“Severe
legal
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and economic
can and
impact
does kill.
of robotics
Though it
and
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artificial
it
intelligence
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(AI). An all-day
for pregnant
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offered live
women.
robot demonstrations
and the chance for academics, industry and the general public to explore
the “Sepsis latest remains technological a leading developments cause of maternal and capabilities. death. That is why it is so
At important the Showcase, that we do two all we exclusive can to identify whitepapers as soon were as possible also published, so that
offering it can be an treated. in-depth It is exploration also important of the not current to forget research newborn landscape babies who in
Urban can succumb Automation infection & Transport very quickly. and AgriTech. The UK Robotics Week
initiative is jointly spearheaded by founding supporters, the Engineering
and “Midwives Physical should Sciences certainly Research “think Council sepsis” (EPSRC), where there The Royal is deterioration Academy of
Engineering, the health the of Institution either mother of Engineering or baby. This and means Technology, we need the Institution the right
of number Mechanical of midwives Engineers so and that the they UK-RAS can deliver Special the Interest best Group, possible and care, was
coordinated including in by the the postnatal EPSRC UK-RAS period. network.
www.ukras.org
1. “Having Online the research right numbers carried out of staff by Opinion will also Matters help to on ensure behalf continuity of EPSRC
UK-RAS of care Network and carer between for women. 17/05/2018 Midwives and who 21/05/2018. know the Sample: woman will 1000 be UK
adults. better equipped All research to spot conducted changes adheres in the woman’s to the MRS condition Codes and of identify Conduct
(2010) problems in the such UK as and sepsis ICC/ESOMAR developing.” World Research Guidelines.
TCI & BIS Practicum
Friday 21st September 2018
The Royal Marsden Education and Conference Centre
Stewart’s Grove, London, SW3 6JJ
A highly practical one day course delivering:
- Consultant led teaching and advice, by clinicians using TCI and BIS
everyday
- Small group ‘hands on’ clinical workshops, using simulation with
BIS
- Problem solving and trouble shooting
- TCI in a wide range of settings
For further information and to book your place please visit
www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/studydays
Exenterative Surgery for Pelvic Cancers:
Current Practices and Future Directions
Thursday 27th - Friday 28th September 2018
The Royal Marsden Education and Conference Centre
Stewart’s Grove, London, SW3 6JJ
Professor This conference Helen Stokes-Lampard, presents new Chair information of the Royal concerning College GPs, opioids said:
“Sepsis examining is a scientific huge worry and for clinical GPs as subjects initial germane symptoms to can patients be similar and
to practitioners.
other common illnesses, and the College is putting a lot of effort
into Novel helping opioid-related family doctors topics recognise and updates potential on existing sepsis issues and ensure will seek that
patients to educate rapidly those receive who appropriate deal with opioids assessment in whatever and treatment. professional
“We capacity. have produced a toolkit, in partnership with NHS England, which
brings For further together information existing and guidance, to book your training place materials please visit and patient
information www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/studydays
to encourage us all to ‘think sepsis, talk sepsis and treat
sepsis’.
“We are pleased to be working with NHS England to raise awareness
and improve outcomes for patients. It really could save lives.”
Anna Crossley, Professional Lead for Acute, Emergency & Critical
Care at the RCN, said: “Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and early
identication is the key to survival, but it can be difcult to diagnose
and often symptoms can be mistaken for a u-like illness. This is why
raising
The
awareness
11th Royal
among carers,
Marsden
health
Pain
care professionals
and Opioid
and the
public is so vital. Even though Conference
there has been good progress to improve
diagnosis, a cohesive national plan is needed to ensure that healthcare
professionals Thursday are 16th supported – Friday and equipped 17th to November identify and treat 2018 sepsis
early.
The Royal Marsden Education and Conference Centre
“If Stewart’s sepsis is Grove, not recognised London, SW3 quickly, 6JJ it can lead to shock, multiple organ
failure and death, which is why early detection is critical to start
treatment This conference within the presents hour. Nurses new and information health care concerning support workers, opioids
who examining see their scientific patients and on clinical a regular subjects basis, germane and are to often patients the and rst
healthcare practitioners. worker to see them, are well placed to recognise the signs
of sepsis early and raise the alarm. If a person has signs or symptoms
Novel opioid-related topics and updates on existing issues will seek
that indicate possible infection, think ‘could this be sepsis?’ and act
to educate those who deal with opioids in whatever professional
fast to raise the alarm, wherever you are.
capacity.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Sepsis-
For further information and to book your place please visit
Action-Plan-23.12.15-v1.pdf
www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/conferences
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