In February 2026, Professor Prokar Dasgupta performed the United Kingdom's first long-distance robotic prostatectomy. Operating from London, he removed the prostate of a patient in Gibraltar, more than 1,500 miles away. The operation marks an important step in how specialist surgical care can reach people who live far from major centres.
The patient and his decision
Paul Buxton, 62, moved to Gibraltar from England four decades ago. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly after Christmas. Rather than travel back to the UK for treatment and face possible delays, he chose to take part in a clinical trial of remote robotic surgery. In his own words, he "jumped at the chance" to be treated without the travel and waiting that would otherwise have been involved.
His situation reflects a challenge faced by many patients in smaller communities. Specialist surgeons tend to be concentrated in large cities, and travelling for treatment can add cost, stress and delay at an already difficult time.
How the operation worked
On 11 February 2026, Professor Dasgupta operated from a console in London using the Toumai Robotic System. The programme was developed through a collaboration between The London Clinic and the Gibraltar Health Authority. In the operating theatre in Gibraltar, a four-armed robotic unit fitted with a high-definition camera carried out his movements.
The two sites were linked by a high-speed fibre-optic connection, with 5G as a backup. The delay between the surgeon's hand movements and the robot's response was just 0.06 seconds, which is almost imperceptible. Throughout the procedure, a full surgical team remained in the theatre in Gibraltar, ready to step in at any point.
Safety comes first
Remote surgery rests on the same principles as any robotic operation. The surgeon controls every movement from the console while viewing a magnified 3D image, and the team at the bedside looks after the patient. You can read more about how the operation itself is performed on our robotic prostatectomy page.
What differs is the distance. A reliable connection, a backup link and a trained local team are all essential, and each was built into the trial from the start. These safeguards are what allow a surgeon to operate confidently from another country.
The results so far
After the operation, Mr Buxton said simply: "I feel fantastic." Following this first success, Professor Dasgupta carried out a second remote procedure on 4 March for a 52-year-old patient, and further operations have been scheduled.
"This gives us the opportunity to treat patients in remote areas and smaller communities by literally being able to take the best surgeon anywhere," said Professor Dasgupta. "It is very, very exciting."
What it could mean for patients
If remote robotic surgery continues to prove safe, it could:
- reduce waiting times for some procedures
- spare patients long journeys for specialist treatment
- widen access to specialist expertise in remote or underserved areas
- strengthen collaboration between medical teams in different countries
It is still early, and remote operations are currently carried out within carefully monitored programmes. Even so, these first cases show what may become possible as the technology and the connections behind it continue to develop.
Part of a longer story
Telesurgery builds on decades of work in robotic surgery. Professor Dasgupta, who is based at King's College London, has been involved in robotic urology since its early days in the UK, and his research has helped shape how surgeons train and how robotic techniques are assessed. His biography and achievements give more detail, and our news page collects recent media coverage of his work.
For patients, the most important point remains the same: every treatment decision starts with a careful assessment of your diagnosis and needs. If you would like to discuss robotic surgery for prostate cancer, please contact the clinic.