Remote Robotic Surgery Milestone for Prostate Cancer: London Surgeon Operates in Gibraltar

A 1,500-Mile Operation

On March 4, 2026, medical history was made when Professor Prokar Dasgupta performed a complex prostatectomy on a 62-year-old patient named Paul Buxton. While the surgery itself — the removal of the prostate gland to treat cancer — is a standard urological procedure, the circumstances were revolutionary. The surgeon was sitting at a console in London, while the patient was lying in an operating theatre in Gibraltar, over 1,500 miles away.

This landmark telesurgery was conducted using the Toumai Robotic System, a four-armed surgical robot equipped with a 3D high-definition camera. The procedure was made possible by high-speed fibre-optic lines and a backup 5G connection, resulting in a latency of only 0.06 seconds — virtually instantaneous, providing the same tactile control and visual precision as if the surgeon were physically in the room.

Overcoming the "Zip Code" Barrier to Health

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and robotic-assisted surgery is the gold standard for treatment due to its precision and reduced recovery time. However, access to highly specialised robotic surgeons is often limited to major metropolitan hubs or university hospitals.

Paul Buxton noted that without this technology, he would have faced the logistical and financial burden of a three-week stay in London and an extensive NHS waiting list. "It's been a privilege to be part of medical history," Buxton said, reporting that he felt "fantastic" just four days after the surgery.

Professor Dasgupta, who leads The London Clinic's Robotic Centre of Excellence, emphasised the humanitarian and educational potential of this breakthrough. "The technology now exists to take the best surgeon anywhere in the world. This is a milestone that will revolutionize surgery for patients in remote or smaller communities," he stated. Beyond direct patient care, the technology allows master surgeons to mentor and supervise junior surgeons in real-time across borders.

The Future of Urological Care

The success of this procedure marks the end of the experimental phase for long-distance telesurgery. As 5G and satellite internet infrastructure continue to expand, the geographical location of a patient will no longer dictate the quality of the surgical care they receive.

For men's health specifically — in the treatment of prostate and kidney cancers — this means that life-saving precision surgery could soon be accessible in rural clinics and developing nations, significantly closing the global gap in cancer survival rates.