Gastrointestinal Surgery
This page was last updated: October 7th, 2022
The GI Surgery Team
Consultants – Upper GI Surgery
- Mr Ian Finlay
- Mr James Clark
- Mr Michael Clarke
- Mr Allwyn Cota
Consultants – Lower GI (colorectal)
- Mr Ponnandai Arumugam
- Mr Denzil May
- Mr Iain Smith
- Mr Will Faux
- Mrs Melanie Feldman
- Mr Paul Lidder
- Mr Nicholas Battersby
- Ms Petra Marsh
Mr Faux is also a general paediatric surgeon.
Emergency General Surgery
- Mr Richard Moore
Consultant – General GI
- Mr Siva Gopalswamy
- Mr Michael Hutton (Locum Consultant)
Colorectal Nurse Consultant
- Karen Cock
Bariatric Nurse Consultant
- Jeremy Gilbert
Specialist Nurses – Colorectal Surgery
- Christine Bevins
- Claire Ferris
- Helen Brownson
Specialist Nurses – Upper GI Surgery
- Louise Maitland
- Louise Goldsmith
- Toby Nisbett
Colorectal Specialist nurses – lower GI
- Lead – Nicola Devlin
- Leanne Stidwell
- Rachel Armitage
- Lisa Tullett
- Joanne Sheppard
- Rachel Bromley
Colorectal Surgical Care Practitioners
- Rode Trickett
- Deborah Evans
Service Manager
- Charlotte Chapman
Specialty Lead clinical
- Mr James Clark
Clinical Director
- Prof Phil Drew
HR Business Partner
- Nicole Steinkruger
Clinical Admin Leads
- Sue Parkyn
- Sarah Semmens
Performance & Operational Manager
- Alison Ward
Surgical Divisional Rota Coordinator
- Angela McCallum
- Elaine Male
Divisional General Manager
Duncan Bliss
Matron for Surgery
Sally Dale
Emergency GI Rota
Twelve of the consultants in the Gastrointestinal Surgery department participate in a 1 in 12 emergency general surgery on-call rota and have an area of specialist expertise so that the department manages the care of patients with a full range of surgical problems including oesophago-gastric, bariatric, biliary, colorectal, endocrine, general abdominal and hernia surgery. Emergencies are managed in a dedicated surgical receiving unit which is not only one of the busiest in the country, seeing 5250 emergency admissions to surgery each year, but also one of the most efficient.
Undergraduate Teaching
Teaching of 3rd to 5th-year medical students from the Peninsula College of Medicine is integrated within the work of the department. Students are present for their pathway weeks, placements and Specific Study Units. Read more about undergraduate training here.
Postgraduate Training
Surgical trainees at all levels from newly qualified doctors (F1) to senior registrars are trained within the department. There are weekly foundation and core trainee training programmes. Read more about postgraduate training here.
Types of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Paediatric surgery performed includes appendicectomies (laparoscopic and open), pyloromyotomies, herniotomies, and orchidopexies.
Specialist Upper Gastrointestinal surgery includes:
- laparoscopic bariatric (weight-loss) surgery
- oesophagectomies
- gastric surgery
- anti-reflux and hiatus hernia surgery
- splenectomy
- Hellers procedures for achalasia
- bile duct exploration
- benign pancreatic surgery
Colorectal Cancer Centre (Lower Gastrointestinal)
- Colectomies,
- Anterior resections,
- Stapled haemorrhoidectomy,
- Extralevator APR (ELAPE with VRAM flap)
- Rectopexies.
Find out more about Cancer Services at Royal Cornwall Hospitals and the support and information we offer for people affected by cancer.
Upper GI Cancer Surgery
We have a local, multidisciplinary team, with consultants that specialise in gastroenterology, surgery, oncology, radiology, and histopathology, as well as cancer nurse specialists and dietitians. We work extremely closely with our colleagues at the specialist centre at Derriford.
Patients who have suspected gastrointestinal cancer will come to us for investigation and diagnosis. If you receive a positive diagnosis, your case will be discussed by both the local and specialist team so that we can recommend the best course of action for you.
You may need chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy prior to surgery. This is provided here at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
If surgery is an option for you, your operation will take place in the specialist cancer centre at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
After your operation, we aim for you to have all follow up appointments, and any further necessary treatment, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, back at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
From diagnosis and throughout your treatment, you will be supported by the Upper GI cancer nurse specialists. They will aim to answer all your questions, explain what to expect and refer to other organisations as required. We’ll give you their contact details when you are referred to the service.
Further information
Find out more about Cancer Services at Royal Cornwall Hospitals and the support and information we offer for people affected by cancer.
You can read more about the team at Derriford Hospital on their website, and download their patient information leaflets about Upper GI Cancer surgery here.
