Gibraltar has reached an important milestone in medical innovation with the successful completion of a robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery performed remotely from London.

The procedure took place at St Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar recently, where a patient underwent a robotic prostatectomy using advanced telesurgery technology that allowed the surgeon to operate approximately 1,750 kilometres away.

The patient, 62-year-old Gibraltar resident Paul Buxton, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly after Christmas, said he felt “fantastic” just days after the surgery and described the experience as “a privilege”.

The operation was carried out by Professor Prokar Dasgupta, one of the world’s leading urologists and head of the Robotic Centre of Excellence at The London Clinic. Using a surgical console in London, Professor Dasgupta remotely controlled the Toumai robotic surgical system installed in Gibraltar.

Despite the distance, the procedure was performed with remarkable precision, with only around 60 milliseconds of latency between the surgeon and the robotic system.

A full surgical team remained present in Gibraltar throughout the operation to ensure patient safety and to intervene if necessary.

The surgery has been described as a historic moment for Gibraltar’s healthcare system, demonstrating how modern technology can make advanced medical procedures accessible even in smaller communities. The Gibraltar Health Authority also deserves recognition for taking on this ambitious challenge with great success.

Funded Through Community Support

The robotic surgical system installed at the Kusuma Robotic Surgery Suite in St Bernard’s Hospital has been made possible thanks to the support of Prostate Cancer Gibraltar, whose mission is to promote early detection, raise awareness and improve prostate cancer care in the community.

The acquisition of this advanced equipment was significantly funded through the generosity of The Kusuma Trust, together with the support of a number of key sponsors and organisations committed to improving men’s health in Gibraltar.

Prostate Cancer Gibraltar dedicated a significant amount of time during most of 2025 seeking sponsorship.

Their support has played a vital role in helping bring state-of-the-art robotic surgery technology to Gibraltar, improving treatment options for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. This advanced medical equipment will be used for a wide cross section of surgical procedures.

A Step Forward for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Following the success of this first procedure, a second robotic prostatectomy has already been performed, and further remote surgeries are planned.

The next telesurgery procedure is expected to take place on 14 March, when 20,000 surgeons will be attending the European Association of Urology Congress and will be able to watch the operation live, being undertaken in Gibraltar from London.

For Gibraltar, this achievement represents more than a technological breakthrough. It reflects what can be accomplished when medical professionals, charities, sponsors and the wider community work together to improve healthcare.

Prostate Cancer Gibraltar is proud to have been able to support this project, which vastly improves surgical capabilities locally and will greatly assist men affected by prostate cancer.