A professor known as the ‘virtual surgeon’ at the Royal London Hospital for using technology to share surgical knowledge has been chosen to represent London in Parliamentary awards for the NHS 70th birthday bash.

Shafi Ahmed beat 750 others to be regional winner in the ‘Future NHS’ awards and now competes with others for the NHS70 title at the Palace of Westminster in July.

He has been dubbed ‘the virtual surgeon’ at Whitechapel for using Google Glass and Snapchat with virtual reality to share surgical care and training.

“Technology helps solve some of the problems in any health system,” he says. “It ultimately makes healthcare and medical education more affordable and accessible around the world.”

Organisers asked MPs to nominate individuals or teams who have improved the NHS. Shafi was nominated by Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali, who said: “Prof Ahmed has made an enormous contribution to the NHS—his achievements at the Royal London have now been recognised.”

The national awards on July 4, the day before the 70th anniversary of the NHS, are hosted by GP and TV Doctor Sara Kayat from This Morning, Celebrity Island and GPs: Behind Closed Doors.