Interview with surgeon Tom Hennigan

More4: Will the patient be asleep when you perform the operation?
TH: No. This is a common misconception. Under medical hypnosis, the patient is awake and the hypnosis allows them to control pain perception. They may keep their eyes closed because they are comfortable and relaxed. There is therefore no risk that they will wake up. They are awake already and can tell us if they need more pain relief be it hypnotherapy, local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic.

More4: Will this hypnotherapy procedure be any different to your usual operations?
TH: The procedure will be exactly the same as countless thousands done each year in the world. The only difference that we will use hand signals rather than talk. We would like the operating theatre to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb the patient.

More4: How do you feel about doing the operation live?
TH: I am naturally apprehensive but I have been during surgery for over 20 years and have done these under hypnosis. An anaesthetist will be present if a general anaesthetic is required. I will have the local anaesthetic medication ready to inject just as in a standard local anaesthetic hernia repair. Therefore I know that the patient will be safe and comfortable throughout no matter what happens. The challenge may be for the patient to be able to concentrate on the hypnosis knowing the procedure is being filmed.