Robots In Care Packages

• Published date: 29 January 2021
• Subject Matter: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration, Technology, Personal Injury, New Technology
• Law Firm: BLM
• Author: Mr Phillip Sturley

Using robots to help carers deliver care in the UK may seem like a distant reality, but in actual fact it is already happening. Lawyers and insurers dealing with personal injury cases may therefore be seeing such technology on their claims sooner than they think.

In July 2020, Hampshire County Council was the first local authority in the UK to trial the use of a robotic device that fits around a carer's waist to assist with lumbar support. The device is called the HAL Lumbar wearable cyborg and was created by a Japanese robotic company called Cyberdyne.

The device is said to support the carer's lumbar region whilst performing care tasks and moving patients, for example. It helps reduce the stress applied on the lumbar region and reduces the risk of back injury. It is also available to use by patients themselves, thereby reducing the extent that care is required in certain situations. The manufacturers claim that it has a waterproof function and a 4.5 hour battery life. A short video has been uploaded to Hampshire County Council's Facebook page demonstrating its use, which can be viewed here.

So what are the challenges when dealing with this new technology in litigation? BLM's Care, Statutory Funding and Rehabilitation Subject Matter Group has considered the possible impacts. One of the first questions that practitioners will ask is, how much does it cost? Unfortunately, that information is not widely available yet, although initial information suggests in the region of '4k pa when part of a larger order It appears from the manufacturer's website that the device is not available to rent to individual users at present. But it seems only a matter of time before these devices or something similar will be on the open market, having been well received by carers in Hampshire.

It is possible that these devices become the norm for carers in order to prevent injuries. Such a development would no doubt be welcomed by...