Bedfordshire ambulance volunteer first patient in live AI assisted sight-saving brain surgery

The operation to remove a brain tumour from Rhys Hibbert, aged 48, has saved his sight – as without surgery, the tumour could have left him blind.

Rhys, who previously won a ‘volunteer of the year’ award as a first responder, hasn’t been able to actively respond to 999 calls for a year.

His brain tumour was discovered by chance in December 2024, after he collapsed during a walk and suffered a seizure.

Rhys explained: “I was out on my usual daily walk when I suddenly felt unwell and lost consciousness.

“Thankfully, people nearby were quick to help, and I received immediate assistance. Following hospital tests, doctors discovered a tumour measuring around 11 millimetres in my pituitary gland.

“It was the only seizure I've ever had, and that unexpected event marked the beginning of my pituitary journey."

Initially managed without surgery, his symptoms worsened over time, including severe hormone imbalance and vision problems.

Rhys said: “I began using walking sticks after repeatedly tripping because I couldn’t see the lower field of visions.”

He opted for surgery and volunteered to take part in research.

“If patients are not prepared to join research, how can doctors ever learn and how can medicine ever progress?” he said. “To me, it's a really important and vital part of what these top specialist hospitals do.”

Days before the operation, he was invited to take part in a live AI‑assisted procedure.

The operation was carried out at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), UCLH, as part of a clinical trial using AI technology developed in-house at UCL and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

During his operation, the AI analysed the live surgical video feed in real time, rather than using pre-surgery scans, to help the surgical team make more precise decisions by highlighting critical structures at the base of the brain.

Rhys said that upon waking from surgery, his vision had dramatically improved, and within a week, he was walking independently without glasses or sticks.

He said: “When I came round… I could see everything in the room clearly. It feels like I've got a 360‑degree panoramic view of everything around me.”

Rhys added: “There is a risk… that a patient will come out with worse vision. But I think my vision is testimony to their accuracy.

“From a patient safety perspective, I can see absolutely the benefit. There are no road signs inside our head.”

Now recovering at home, Rhys is gradually rebuilding his strength and building the length of his daily walks. He hopes his participation will contribute to future advancements.

“Otherwise, how do we learn?” he said.

Hani Marcus, consultant neurosurgeon at the NHNN, UCLH and a professor of neurosurgery at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, performed the surgery alongside Danyal Khan, the surgical resident leading the work.

Hani said: “Huge thanks to the trial participants and to the team committed to improving patient outcomes by taking this important first step globally and using UK homegrown AI to help reduce risk during these delicate surgeries.”