An ingenious invention which helped a stranded surgeon participate during her mother’s overseas operation is set to save the NHS millions in the fight to cut waiting lists and ensure that essential lifesaving surgery can go ahead even if the surgeon is unable to be present in the operating theatre.
A day-to-day clinical study of the invention, Proximie, a software which enables real-time remote access to the operating room and has been likened to ‘Zoom designed for surgeons’ was presented at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS – www.bapras.org.uk) Celtic meeting last month. The study, “How technology saved our lists when the surgeon tested COVID positive” highlights how streaming technology can avoid expensive cancellations and save valuable surgical days.
Recent data from NHS England, analysed by the PA news agency’s RADAR service, shows providers cancelled 85,018 elective operations at the last minute for non-clinical reasons in the year to June. The figure is a 7% increase on the 79,757 reported in 2024, and the highest figure for a 12-month period since comparable records began in 2003/04.1
One of the co-authors of the study, Inez Eiben, a Plastic Surgery Specialist Registrar in London, describes how the lifesaving technology came into its own during the pandemic:
“I’m sure most people will remember when COVID-19 caused major disruption to NHS surgical lists when lead surgeons, though asymptomatic, had to isolate, which led to cancelled cancer operations and lost training opportunities for plastic surgery trainees.
“We desperately needed to save surgical appointments so after a ‘lightbulb moment’ in the hospital we quickly developed a differently used technology at that point to live-stream operations using a high-definition camera, microphone, and headset. In this way, we enabled remote consultant supervision of another clinician which allowed otherwise cancelled cancer surgeries to proceed.
“The technology lived up to its potential with fourteen cancer cases successfully completed, preserving four full surgical days. Patients consented to assisted surgery after the lead surgeon tested positive for COVID around a week before their scheduled list. The entire team was briefed beforehand, so the lead surgeon participated remotely from home via laptop.”
Now, the technology is being further developed and is available to drive down waiting lists and provide constant surgical expertise and to avoid delays in treatment of patients.
Inez continues:“Although we had to work in extreme circumstances during the pandemic it did enable us to test this technology thoroughly. The technology was available but new and not utilised to save the NHS money and prevent theatre list cancellations with remote supervision.
“At one point, the founder used the platform so that she could remotely access an overseas operation on her mother which she was unable to attend. I suppose you could say that mother was the necessity of invention!”
“We are delighted to have used an opportunity that was there but not fully utilised in a way that may help save money and provide the best patient care for years to come.”
Surgeon and co-author of the study, Jenny Geh, believes that remote access will help enormously to save surgical hours: “The technology is amazingly easy to use and once we have full patient consent it is remarkably similar to working in a normal operating environment. It will become standard in a short space of time and another tool we can use to keep the service running with less delays and at lesser cost.”
According to consultant plastic surgeon and BAPRAS President Paul McArthur; “It is always exciting to see the latest advances being presented to the surgical community at our Scientific Meetings. Plastic surgery itself was shaped by the unique needs and pressures of each phase throughout history, and it continues to evolve with the most innovative uses of new technology, such as now being able to access the operating theatre remotely.”
About the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons is the voice of plastic surgery in the UK, advancing education in all aspects of the specialty and promoting understanding of contemporary practice. BAPRAS speaks for the majority of reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgeons providing services to patients in the UK today. For more information visit www.bapras.org.uk
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