Professor Prokar Dasgupta is a London-based urological surgeon who recently led a landmark medical procedure in which a patient in Gibraltar (British Overseas Territories) was operated on from more than 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometres) away.
The surgery marked the first time a doctor in the United Kingdom carried out a robotic operation at such a distance.
Dasgupta performed the operation from a surgical console at The London Clinic in the UK while the patient lay in an operating theatre at St Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar. The procedure involved removing the prostate of a 62-year-old cancer patient, Paul Buxton, using a robotic surgical system connected through high-speed communication lines.
The robotic system used four mechanical arms and a 3D high-definition camera. Dasgupta controlled the robot from London while watching the surgery on a screen. There was a delay of only about 60 milliseconds between the surgeon’s hand movements and the robot’s response, allowing the operation to be carried out with precision.
Medical experts described the procedure as a milestone for remote healthcare. Dasgupta said the technology made it possible to treat patients who live far from specialist centres.
He noted that remote robotic surgery could help patients in smaller communities and remote regions who might otherwise have to travel long distances for complex procedures.
The operation was carried out with support from surgeons present in Gibraltar who were ready to step in if needed. The system linking London and Gibraltar used fibre-optic connections and a backup 5G network to ensure the robotic controls remained stable during the procedure.
The patient was named Paul Buxton and said he felt “fantastic” just four days after the surgery. Buxton had previously expected to travel to the UK and spend weeks waiting for treatment. Taking part in the remote procedure allowed him to receive care in Gibraltar instead.
Dasgupta is recognised as a leading figure in robotic urological surgery. He heads the Robotic Centre of Excellence at The London Clinic and specialises in procedures involving the prostate and urinary tract.
Robotic surgery has increasingly been used in the UK for operations such as prostate cancer treatment because it allows surgeons to make smaller and more precise incisions, which can reduce recovery time and complications.
The successful Gibraltar procedure has been seen as an important step in expanding telesurgery, where surgeons operate on patients from distant locations using robotic systems. Doctors say the technology could eventually be used to deliver specialist care to remote areas, conflict zones, or places where experienced surgeons are not available.
Professor Prokar Dasgupta was born in Rourkela, Odisha, India and grew up partly in Lucknow. He earned his medical degree from Medical College, Calcutta in 1989 before moving to the UK for specialist training. He later became a leading British surgeon and was awarded India’s Padma Shri for his contributions to medicine.
