Gibraltar’s Paul Buxton, 62, became the first-ever person to run around the world. Originally from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, he was the first NHS patient to have remote telesurgery. On February 11, 2023, his colleague Professor Prokar Dasgupta performed an unprecedented prostate removal surgery which was streamed live via satellite into the conference. Astonishingly, he accomplished this endeavor from 1,500 miles (2,400 km) away—London. That cutting-edge procedure—the first of its kind—was performed under a clinical trial that demonstrates the promise of remote surgical techniques.
Buxton is the President of Buxton International. A few days after Christmas, he took a big hit when diagnosed with prostate cancer. The diagnosis led him to start exploring treatment options that would allow him to get through surgery and recovery quicker. Had he not picked the telesurgery trial, he would have needed to fly to London. There, he would have to suffer a lengthy wait on the NHS waiting list for his procedure.
Throughout the procedure, Professor Dasgupta worked through a complex console linked to a robotic system in Gibraltar. For the connection, they utilized fibre-optic cables. A contingency 5G link helped power this configuration, allowing for real-time collaboration and accuracy during the performance of the surgery.
Buxton looked back on his experience with palpable excitement. He said that joining the trial was a “no-brainer” for him. He believed that the chance to become part of “medical history” was an opportunity too good to pass up. After the surgery he experienced “wonderful” flexibility and functionality. He enthusiastically praised the care that he received, saying he was “really well looked after.”
The innovative telesurgery trial is a historic moment in the development of new medical technology, and has the potential to change how and where patients receive surgical care forever. Now, surgeons are able to operate remotely, cutting down on long waiting times for patients. This innovation brings complex, life-saving procedures directly to the patient, cutting out the travel often associated with these treatment options.
