We knew that it was coming, and now it’s here. Almost, anyway.

Welcome the nursebot, an ingenious nurse-robot that is currently being brought to life by mad scientists in the EU. This is the answer to the nursing shortage. No need for humans to deliver health care, if a robot can do it. Sure, they need maintenance and power to run, but it’s certainly a lot cheaper than paying a salary, health insurance, pension, vacation time–and the best thing is that robots don’t need to sleep or put their feet up. Or take a bathroom break.

From This is London

Robot nurses could be bustling around hospital wards in as little as three years.

The mechanised “angels” being developed by EU-funded scientists, will perform basic tasks such as mopping up spillages, taking messages, and guiding visitors to hospital beds.

They could also distribute medicines and even monitor the temperature of patients remotely with laser thermometers.

Working in teams, the intelligent robots will be able to communicate with each other and co-ordinate their duties.

Scientists from the universities of Warwick, Cardiff, Dublin and Newcastle are among the engineers and software experts taking part in the “IWARD” project. They aim to have a three-robot prototype system ready by 2010.

It is hoped the machines will ease pressure on hospitals and free staff to spend more time with patients.

By helping to keep wards cleaner, they could also cut infections by hospital superbugs such as MRSA.

I don’t think that this is a nurse that they are talking about, but a glorified maid. Do nurses routinely mop the floors in the UK? Do they take messages and guide visitors to the bedside? That sounds more like the job for a candy striper or a volunteer.

No wonder the nursing shortage is so severe in the UK. They get to do even more scut work then nurses on this side of the pond.

So it seems that these nursebots really aren’t nurses at all, but merely cleaning machines. Talking message machines. And little helpers who can help old ladies through the hallway.

I love how they equate the job of nurse and housekeeper together. Like cleaning the wards and taking temperatures go hand in hand.

I don’t think that these machines are necessarily a bad idea, but please don’t call them electronic nurses. They appear to be a combo maid, clerk and maybe an aide. Please don’t include mopping the floor with a nurse’s job. Maybe nurses did that in 1908, but not now. And any nurse who is routinely cleaning up spills should get an MRI of her brain.