London doctor successfully performs prostate removal surgery using a remote robot in Gibraltar, 2,400 km away
Prokar Dasgupta, a urologist at the London Clinic in central London, remotely controlled a robot in the operating room of St. Bernard's Hospital, the only hospital in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, to perform a successful prostatectomy on a 62-year-old patient.
Sci-fi surgery as doctor in UK directs robot to remove a prostate in Gibraltar | UK news | The Guardian
Patient of landmark Gibraltar robotic surgery carried out remotely from London feels 'fantastic'
St. Bernard's Hospital is the only general hospital in Gibraltar, and Gibraltar's robotic surgery program will officially begin in January 2026.
GHA launches robotic-assisted surgery in major advancement for patient care - 41/2026
https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/gha-launches-robotic-assisted-surgery-in-major-advancement-for-patient-care-412026-11636
Local surgeries have already been performed locally using a robotic surgical system, but this is the first time that a remote operation has been performed by a doctor in London.
The case of Paul Paxton, who underwent surgery, was somewhat complicated and would have required him to travel to London and join a waiting list, meaning he would have had to wait three weeks for surgery.
The surgery was performed using a 5G-enabled fiber optic backup, with a surgical team in Gibraltar on standby in case of an emergency, but Dasgupta successfully removed his prostate in an environment with a latency of 60 milliseconds.
'It was an incredible experience, as if I was there, even though it was remotely controlled,' Dasgupta said. 'This technology can save lives in remote locations without the enormous expense and inconvenience of travel.'
Paxton also said after the surgery, 'I feel amazing. I'm honored to be a part of medical history.'
A second prostatectomy has already been performed on another patient using the same system.
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