Why did you decide to become a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon ?

I knew from an early stage of training that I wanted to be a surgeon. I have always been practically minded and enjoy working with my hands. Early in my training I met some very inspiring colorectal surgeons. Gut problems are extremely common, so there is a great opportunity to help a lot of people, and many of the treatments and interventions are relatively straightforward yet make a real difference to quality of life. There is also a lot of misinformation about gastrointestinal and digestive health, and I enjoy putting that right.

What are the common symptoms that your patients tend to present with?

Most people come to see me with digestive symptoms. These may be lower gut symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, a change in bowel habit, diarrhoea, constipation or rectal bleeding, or upper gut symptoms such as heartburn and reflux. Some people come because of problems around the back passage, such as pain, bleeding or lumps. As a general surgeon I also treat abdominal wall hernias, and my NHS specialist practice is in complex colorectal cancer surgery.

What are the treatments that you're able to offer your patients?

A great deal of information can be gained from clinical examination, blood tests and stool tests. Some patients need an endoscopic examination of the gut, either a camera into the stomach (gastroscopy) or a camera into the colon (colonoscopy). These are straightforward tests that give a clear understanding of the cause of symptoms, so we can offer the best advice. Treatment often comes down to understanding triggers and the interplay of diet, fluid intake, fibre, sleep, and anxiety, and the effect these have on the gut. Many problems around the back passage can be managed with creams or simple interventions, and only a small number of patients need surgery for common digestive conditions. Where necessary however, I offer the spectrum of general and colorectal surgical operations for my patients.

What are your areas of sub-specialist interest?

I am the trust lead for endoscopy and perform a large number of endoscopic procedures. I see many patients with bowel symptoms and questions about digestive health, and I also look after a lot of athletes and elite sports people. My NHS practice is based at The Christie Hospital, one of Europe's leading cancer centres, where I specialise in colorectal cancer surgery, in particular advanced, complex, metastatic, and recurrent colorectal cancer, as well as rare cancers.