In a pioneering first to the region, Professor Prokar Dasgupta performed the first robotic urological surgery. Remarkably, he accomplished this on a patient who happened to be 1,500 miles away in Gibraltar. On February 11, surgeons completed the procedure on Paul Buxton, a 62-year-old veteran patient. He had just beaten cancer himself—he was recently in remission from prostate cancer. Professor Dasgupta was in full control of the Toumai Robotic System from his console in London. In parallel, the operation was performed at St Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar.
This pioneering operation is a testament to a major breakthrough in telemedicine. It is the first time a major intricate operation has been successfully conducted from miles away. Installation of fibre-optic cables immediately created a serious digital bridge between the UK and Gibraltar. A secondary 5G connection backs up the entire setup, providing wireless resiliency and constant communication during the highly technical procedure. A dedicated medical team, experienced in mass gatherings, was on standby in Gibraltar whether or not the concerts had connected. Thankfully, the technology didn’t disappoint.
Paul Buxton is originally from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset. He has lived in Gibraltar the past 40 years and is looking forward to becoming a part of this groundbreaking trial. He had first expected long waits for treatment under Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) after his cancer diagnosis.
“A lot of people actually said to me: ‘You’re not going to do it, are you?’ I thought, I’m giving something back here,” said Buxton about his decision to take part in the trial.
He described that participating in the process just seemed like a “no-brainer” with everything going on. After the surgery, Buxton said he felt “amazing,” saying he was glad, shocked and thankful that doctors acted so quickly.
“As we develop these technological advancements in healthcare, it’s vital that we consider their humanitarian benefits as well,” Professor Dasgupta said of tele-mentored remote surgeries.
“I think it is very, very exciting; the humanitarian benefit is going to be significant,” stated Professor Dasgupta.
The surgery, proof that miracles do happen, has left Buxton feeling incredibly optimistic about the future. It further lays the groundwork for advanced medical procedures to be administered remotely in the future. Following this first new intervention, Professor Dasgupta will carry out the second procedure on March 14th. This exciting event will be live-streamed to an audience of 20,000 elite urological surgeons around the globe.
As Gibraltar has only one hospital and often requires residents to seek complex medical care abroad, this advancement in telemedicine could greatly enhance healthcare accessibility for its population. Buxton operates an interstate and intrastate transport company. He’s hopeful that this creative new model will mean more patients get treated in a timely manner, without having to travel long distances.