A hand grip apparatus for receiving operator input for controlling a surgical tool in a robotic surgery system, the apparatus comprising: a generally tubular body having a proximal end shaped to be grasped by a hand of the operator and a distally located interface end operably configured to be coupled to an input apparatus for controlling the surgical tool; a first control lever attached to the body at a first pivot joint and extending along the body away from the proximal end, the first control lever terminating in a finger grip end configured to receive one of the operator's fingers, the first control lever being laterally moveable away from the body about the first pivot joint; a second control lever attached to the body at a second pivot joint on a generally opposing side of the body to the first pivot joint, the second control lever extending along the body away from the proximal end and terminating in a thumb grip end configured to receive the operator's thumb, the second control lever being laterally moveable away from the body about the second pivot joint, wherein movement of at least one of the first and second control levers is operable to produce a first control signal representing the movement; and an input control on an upper surface of the body and generally interposed between the finger and thumb grip ends (112, 118), the input control having an actuator surface that is angled towards the finger grip end and being operably configured to produce a second control signal in response to actuation of the actuator surface by one of the operator's fingers, wherein the finger grip end comprises a retaining loop operably configured to retain the operator's finger for actuating the first control lever, and wherein the retaining loop comprises a loop portion and an open portion, the open portion being disposed to permit lateral movement of the operator's finger between the finger grip and the input control. a generally tubular body having a proximal end shaped to be grasped by a hand of the operator and a distally located interface end operably configured to be coupled to an input apparatus for controlling the surgical tool; a first control lever attached to the body at a first pivot joint and extending along the body away from the proximal end, the first control lever terminating in a finger grip end configured to receive one of the operator's fingers, the first control lever being laterally moveable away from the body about the first pivot joint; a second control lever attached to the body at a second pivot joint on a generally opposing side of the body to the first pivot joint, the second control lever extending along the body away from the proximal end and terminating in a thumb grip end configured to receive the operator's thumb, the second control lever being laterally moveable away from the body about the second pivot joint, wherein movement of at least one of the first and second control levers is operable to produce a first control signal representing the movement; and an input control on an upper surface of the body and generally interposed between the finger and thumb grip ends (112, 118), the input control having an actuator surface that is angled towards the finger grip end and being operably configured to produce a second control signal in response to actuation of the actuator surface by one of the operator's fingers, wherein the finger grip end comprises a retaining loop operably configured to retain the operator's finger for actuating the first control lever, and wherein the retaining loop comprises a loop portion and an open portion, the open portion being disposed to permit lateral movement of the operator's finger between the finger grip and the input control.