Smartphone or Virtual Reality headset: World first allows viewers to watch live stream of operation on patient

In a world first a cancer patient at a London hospital set to have his operation live streamed using virtual reality technology in a world first.

Those with the right tech will be able to watch the ground-breaking surgery next month using a smartphone and virtual reality headset, making them feel as if they are in the operating theatre.

Using several specialist cameras placed above the operating table the surgery will be broadcast live from The Royal London Hospital on April 14 and will last between two and three hours.

Shafi Ahmed, who has championed virtual reality technology in surgery will perform the operation and called it a "gamechanger" for healthcare innovation and education.

Dr Ahmed, consultant surgeon at St Bartholomew's Hospital said the technology will "address the global inequalities in surgical health and will allow trainees and surgeons to connect and train remotely across the world".

The patient, a British man in his 70s who is suffering from cancer of the colon, is said to be "excited" about the prospect of having his operation watched by thousands of people across the globe.

The immersive broadcast will run a minute or so behind the surgery in case of any unforeseen complications.

It isn't the first time Dr Ahmed has revolutionised surgery - in 2014 he became the first surgeon to live stream an operation whilst wearing Google Glass and has also experimented with 360-degree cameras.

The operation will be streamed from 1pm on Thursday April 14 from The Royal London Hospital in partnership with Medical Realities and livestreaming service Matavision.