UCL professor Prokar Dasgupta has pulled off a remarkable first. He operated on a patient 1,500 miles away in Gibraltar using robotic surgery. This unprecedented operation, carried out on February 11, saw the 62-year-old Paul Buxton, who has prostate cancer. The procedure represented an amazing milestone in remote robotic surgery from the UK. Most impressively, it managed to integrate super high-end fibre-optic tech with a fail-over 5G connection.
The operation took place inside the hospital in Gibraltar. It’s the only community hospital for the British overseas territory. A few weeks later, Paul Buxton had an appointment to have his prostate removed. Simultaneously, UK-based Professor Dasgupta flew a console connected in real-time to the robotic system in Gibraltar. A fresh medical team waited in Gibraltar, prepared to avoid any connection breakdowns. Luckily, the link survived intact for the duration of the very tricky operation.
Paul Buxton was thrilled to have been part of this groundbreaking procedure. He dismissed that opposition as a “no-brainer” and viewed the reunification as an opportunity to leave a lasting imprint on medical history. Born in Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, he moved to Gibraltar 40 years ago and runs a local transport company. After the operation, Buxton was, in his own words, “fantastic.” He complimented the treatment he received, claiming that he was “very well looked after.”
Professor Dasgupta pointed to the extraordinary innovations in medical technology. He once commented that the experience of working remotely was like being there “just about as if I was in person.” The surgery was performed with the Toumai Robotic System, which has emerged as a critical technology in intricate surgical procedures.
This operation served as the first of two test cases. The next one is set for March 4th and will feature a 52-year-old man, his name as of yet unknown. Professor Dasgupta will be undertaking a third AVF procedure on 14 March. Further, this event will be live-streamed to an estimated 20,000 leading urological surgeons worldwide. This initiative demonstrates the capabilities of modern medicine and aims to improve access to complex medical procedures for patients in remote locations.
Gibraltarian residents frequently find it difficult to access specialized medical care because the unique resources needed are often unavailable on the Rock. Most still have to go overseas, often to the UK, for NHS care if they’re eligible. Today this great remote surgical procedure has had remarkable success. It would pave the way for better medical treatment in Gibraltar and other communities like it.