What’s happened 

A GP practice in Dundee has taken part in a trial exploring whether robots could carry out routine cardiovascular health checks and reduce pressure on primary care services. 

The HEART-POD project is a collaboration between the National Robotarium and Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University and Erskine Medical Practice, NHS Tayside. 

A commercial robot, known as Temi, was adapted and customised by engineers at the National Robotarium before being deployed at Erskine Practice, Arthurstone Medical Centre. 

The three-foot robot moves on wheels and has a touchscreen interface. It can greet patients, direct them to the assessment area and guide them through routine measurements including height, weight, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. 

Patients are shown video demonstrations and can interact with Temi using either the touchscreen or voice commands. 

Spoken responses are processed using a large language model and automatically coded into the corresponding health data. 

Testing the technology with patients 

Following four months of development, the prototype was tested during a two-day Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) workshop in March 2026. 

The workshop involved 21 participants – 12 patients living with cardiovascular conditions and nine primary care professionals, including GPs, nurses and administrators. 

Patients reported that Temi was easy to use and commented positively on its calm, unrushed communication style. 

The trial also identified limitations. Some patients raised concerns about privacy, while the robot’s microphone had difficulties in a busy clinical environment.  

Why this matters to members 

The HEART-POD trial offers a small-scale glimpse of how automation could change the way routine clinical information is collected. 

Measurements such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, height and weight are not replacements for clinical judgement. But if technology can collect routine information accurately and safely before a consultation, it could potentially give healthcare professionals more time to focus on assessment, decision-making and conversations with patients. 

The trial also demonstrates some of the questions that will need to be answered before technologies like this become more widely used. Accuracy, accessibility, privacy and ease of use remain essential, particularly for patients who may be less confident using digital technology.  

And healthcare professionals involved in the trial were clear that greater use of technology should support rather than replace the human relationship between clinician and patient.  

Links and references 

National Robotarium: Robot helps transform cardiovascular health checks in Scottish NHS GP surgery

Image: Temi. Credit: Ben Glasgow c/o The National Robotarium, Heriot-Watt University