Questions / Clear starting points
Before the first delivery
Capabilities vary. These answers explain the decisions to check, rather than promise what every robot can do.
Nine corridor questions
Do delivery robots replace nurses or porters?
Their intended role is transport support, not clinical care. Staffing decisions are local, and preparation, receipt, supervision and recovery still require people. A pilot should measure how work changes across teams rather than promise automatic staff savings.
Can a robot carry medicines or laboratory specimens?
Potentially, but only within an approved process. Pharmacy or laboratory teams must review security, packaging, temperature, traceability, delay limits and failed receipt. A lockable compartment alone is not sufficient assurance.
What happens when the corridor is blocked?
The robot may wait, stop or use an approved alternative route, depending on its configuration. There should be a named escalation route and an authorised recovery procedure. It must not simply divert into an unapproved clinical area.
Can it use any door or lift?
No. Doors and lifts need compatible, approved interfaces and operating rules. Access permissions, fire arrangements, passenger use and failure responses must be reviewed with building specialists.
Does it need a constant wireless connection?
That depends on the product and task. Some navigation can run onboard, while dispatch, lift requests or remote support may depend on connectivity. Test the actual configuration and document its response to connection loss.
Does a navigation camera record patients?
Not necessarily. Sensors and data handling vary. Ask what is captured, whether images are stored or transmitted, who can access them and how long they are retained. Do not assume that navigation means recording, or that it guarantees no recording.
Should visitors move or touch a stopped robot?
Do not try to push, open, ride on or reset it. Leave room and tell a member of staff if it is obstructing access. In an emergency, follow hospital staff instructions and the facility’s emergency arrangements.
How much does a hospital delivery robot service cost?
There is no reliable universal price. Compare equipment or subscription charges, building work, integration, support, cleaning, training and recovery effort. Assess total service cost against a documented local baseline.
What should a first pilot prove?
It should show that a bounded service can deliver approved loads reliably without unacceptable safety, accessibility or workload impacts. Set success and stop criteria in advance, including complete receipt, recovery effort and staff feedback.