Paul Buxton, a 62-year-old cancer patient from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, wouldn’t have said he was about to make history. As such, he became the first to have a remote operation via robot in Gibraltar. On February 11, a history-making operation was performed. This was all in service of a trial intended to push the boundaries of surgical practice and improve patient care.
Buxton, who has lived in Gibraltar for 40 years, hadn’t prepared himself for a diagnosis of prostate cancer just after Christmas. He required treatment immediately — and a unique telesurgery method was selected. This personal choice spared him the months-long wait times he’d face in London through the NHS.
The operation was conducted by Professor Prokar Dasgupta using the new Toumai Robotic System. The console operated in the UK was connected to the surgical robot in Gibraltar through fibre-optic cables, supplemented by a backup 5G link. An incredibly determined team in Gibraltar was on call every step of the way, making sure that our Wi-Fi connection stayed strong.
Had I not been able to select telesurgery in Gibraltar, my only option would be to fly to London. That would involve jumping on the NHS waiting list, having the procedure done on the NHS, and subsequently spending three weeks in the city, Buxton noted. His choice to enroll in the trial was an easy one.
“It was a no-brainer,” he said, as he described his confidence in the procedure, even when he heard fears from others in his circle. “A lot of people actually said to me: ‘You’re not going to do it, are you?’” he recalled.
Buxton said he felt “fantastic” after the surgery and was impressed by the treatment he received during this trailblazing medical venture. As a business owner, he understood the competitive advantage that telesurgery provided to his transportation. It spared him from extensive travel and waiting periods and allowed him the comfort of home while recovering.
The super-mouse successful operation now marks a new frontier in surgical innovation. This is an example of the type of technological innovation that will drive enhanced patient care and access. Soon, remote surgeries will become a reality, and with it, medical procedures that bring hope to patients who will one day experience the same fate as Ryan.