A groundbreaking remote robotic prostate surgery connected a London-based surgeon to a patient in Gibraltar over a 2,400-kilometer distance, marking a historic step in digital surgery.

The patient, Paul Buxton, aged 62, reported feeling fantastic four days after surgery and characterized participation as contributing to medical progress, moving from the 'Championship' to the 'Champions League' in access to care.

Buxton, a Gibraltar resident born in Somerset, said he felt like a guinea pig but was proud to help advance surgical technology and recover well within days.

Gibraltar’s Health Minister Gemma Arias-Vasquez called the development a landmark for blending technology with clinical expertise, noting NHS robotic surgery goals to expand procedures dramatically in the coming decade.

The prostate cancer surgery was performed with the Toumai system, achieving an ultra-fast 60-millisecond latency between the surgeon’s console and the robot, making the remote operation feel nearly local.

The remote setup included a Gibraltar ground team ready to assume control if the connection faltered, a collaboration between The London Clinic and Gibraltar Health Authority.

The procedure used the Toumai Robotic System from Microport, with fibre-optic links and a backup 5G connection, operated by a four-arm robot under a high-definition 3D visualization system.

Buxton described the experience as positive, highlighting avoidance of NHS waiting lists and long travel, framing it as a pioneering moment for Gibraltar.