General Surgery | James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Home
Departments & Services A-Z
General Surgery

General Surgery

The Department of General Surgery includes:

Colorectal Surgery
Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
Breast and Reconstructive Breast Surgery
Laparoscopic Surgery
Day Surgery
Emergency Surgery
General Paediatric Surgery.

In addition, visiting surgeons provide expertise in Vascular Surgery.

Consultants are supported by a team of fully-trained and trainee surgeons, and are provided with state-of-the art facilities within a modern surgical unit. In addition, the department provides a 24-hour Emergency Surgery service that is led by Consultant Surgeons.

What services are provided?

The department carries out both cancer and non-cancer surgery.

There is a comprehensive service for the management of all colorectal and breast cancers; patients benefit from a close-knit multi-disciplinary team that includes cancer nurse specialists, radiologists, gastroenterologists & pathologists.

You will find further details under the department page of each specialty.

Cancers of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract (stomach, oesophagus, pancreas) are referred to regional centres as per National Guidelines; patients still benefit from having their initial investigations, diagnosis and management plan being made locally and with the support of a multi-disciplinary team.

The department also carries out the whole range of benign (non-cancer) surgery, from specialised procedures such as laparoscopic (key-hole) anti-reflux surgery, surgery for Crohn’s disease, correction of rectal prolapse and reduction mammoplasty to the common general surgical operations such as hernia repair (both laparoscopic and open) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gall bladder).

Most of the common non-cancer surgery is carried out as day-cases, and patients are admitted to a dedicated Day-Surgery Ward where they are looked after by highly-trained nurses after their operations.

For more major operations, patients are admitted as in-patients to dedicated Surgical Wards. These wards are also staffed by highly-trained nurses who are experienced in looking after surgery patients. Stringent infection control is a major focus of these wards.

Colorectal Surgery

The colorectal unit at James Paget University Hospital treats patients suffering from lower gastrointestinal conditions including bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease), diverticular disease and disorders around the back passage including haemorrhoids, fissure and prolapse.

The unit works closely with the gastroenterology department, providing services in the endoscopy unit such as colonoscopy and the removal of polyps.

The team includes surgeons, colorectal nurse specialists, stoma nurses and ward nurses.

Operations performed include colon resection, rectum resection, fistula operation, haemorrhoid operation, rectal prolapse repair etc.

Most operations are performed using key-hole (laparoscopic) technique. We have adopted the Enhanced Recovery Programme, which results in an improved patient journey after major surgery & high patient-satisfaction. Both elective and emergency procedures are performed. Surgeon-specific outcomes for bowel cancer surgery are comparable to other centres at national level and patient survey results have been very positive.

Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery

Our Upper Gastrointestinal Consultant Surgeons are supported by a team of fully-trained & trainee surgeons.

The unit provides the entire range of benign Upper GI Surgery, including surgery for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gall bladder surgery (including removal of bile duct stones), splenectomy and hiatus hernia surgery. The majority of Upper GI Surgery is performed laparoscopically (key-hole surgery), and the unit has also performed some operations by the ‘scarless’ technique.

The unit also participates in the Emergency Surgery service, providing specialist care for complex Upper GI conditions such as severe pancreatitis and gastric volvulus. Both the consultants are involved in teaching of undergraduate & postgraduate students, training and research.

Though Upper GI cancer surgery is now performed in regional centres as per National Guidelines, the unit is part of the Cancer Network.

It provides the whole range of initial management, including investigations & diagnosis. The unit is supported by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a Cancer Nurse Specialist, Gastroenterologists, Radiologists and Pathologists. A video-conference is held every week with the regional cancer centres to agree management plans for our patients.

Further information

The department’s surgical outcomes are consistently of a high standard.

While its main focus is always on providing safe and high-quality care to its patients, the department is also active in the fields of research, training and teaching.

It is closely linked to the University of East Anglia, and teaches medical students of the Norwich Medical School.

The department is also a training centre for surgeons-in-training within the Anglia region.

Teaching

The Surgery Department provides both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

Medical students from the Norwich Medical School learn how to diagnose and treat surgical conditions, including surgical emergencies. Postgraduate trainees receive formal teaching and supervised training within an accredited training programme.

The department has an active academic programme, consisting of weekly educational meeting and 6-weekly educational half days. The weekly meetings often have outside guest speakers who are experts in their fields. In addition the department participates in the lunch-time surgical specialties teaching programme which prepares trainees for postgraduate surgical examinations.

Our focus on education helps to ensure that our patients benefit from the latest advances in the field of surgery

Information for General Surgery patients - please click and choose the General Surgery section

Information leaflets A-Z

Key staff - General Surgery Consultants

Mr Vivek Chitre

Vivek Chitre

MS, FRCSEd, FRCS (General Surgery)

Consultant Surgeon & Chief Medical Officer, James Paget University Hospital; Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of East Anglia

Specialities:

Upper Gastrointestinal & Laparoscopic Surgery
General Surgery
Bariatric Surgery
Day Surgery

Experience:

After qualifying in Goa (India), I trained as a surgeon both in India & then in the UK.

I started my UK training at the James Paget University Hospital, and then completed my specialist training across London & the East of England, coming full circle to take up a consultant position back at the James Paget.

In addition to General Surgery and Emergency Surgery, my specialist expertise includes Upper Gastrointestinal, Laparoscopic & Bariatric Surgery.

Additional information:

Member;

Association of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland (ASGBI)
Association of Upper GI Surgeons (AUGIS)
International Federation of Obesity Surgeons (IFSO)
British Obesity & Metabolic Surgeons Society (BOMSS)
Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons

Research;

Hernia surgery
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)

Teaching & Training;

Member of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers
Regional Surgical Advisor (Royal College of Edinburgh) for surgical trainees
PBL tutor (Norwich Medical School)
Educational & Clinical Supervisor for postgraduate trainees

Secretary - 01493 452666

Mr Roshan Lal

MBBS, MS, FRCS

Specialities:

General surgery
Colorectal surgery; bowel cancers, inflammatory bowel disease etc.
Laparoscopic surgery; bowel, hernias, gall bladder etc.
General Paediatric surgery

Experience:

Appointed Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon at the James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in January 2006. Colorectal cancer lead for the trust since 2006.

Worked at various UK hospitals from 1994 to 2005. Last appointment before joining JPUH was as Associate Specialist at West Suffolk Hospital Bury St. Edmunds.

Qualified from Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla India in 1985 and then underwent higher surgical training from 1987 to 1993 at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh, India.

In 1994 completed FRCS in General Surgery. Has over 25 years of extensive surgical experience.

Examiner for Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons. Actively involved in teaching and training of junior doctors, E tutor of UEA MS Coloproctology, teaching medical students and is an Honorary Lecturer at University of East Anglia, Norwich.

Additional information:

Registered on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council

Member;

Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland
Royal College of Surgeons of England, London
European Society of Coloproctology
British Medical Association

Examiner;

Intercollegiate MRCS for Royal college of Surgeons
Norwich Medical School
OSCE examiner for MS Coloproctology.
Interview panellist for Norwich Medical School, National selection of Core (CT1/ CT2) and specialist surgical trainees (ST)

Secretary - Telephone - 01493 453555

Ms Monica Bogdan

Upper GI Surgeon

Secretary - 01493 453555

Mr Bence Atkari

Consultant Upper GI Surgeon

Secretary - 01493 452666

Mr Vamsi Velchuru

MRCS FRCS(Ed) FRCS(Gen Surg.) MIS (Chicago)

Consultant General, Laparoscopic & Colorectal Surgeon, Norwich Medical School Lead

Secretary - Carol Borton - 01493 452158

Mr Raman Guruswamy

Consultant GI Surgeon

Secretary - 01493 452158 or 452233

Mr Kamal Aryal

Secretary - 01493 452233

Mr Nauyan Ali

Secretary - 01493 452377

Mr Mohammed Salman

Secretary - 01493 453586

Mr Mazin Hamed

Secretary - 01493 453586

Key staff - Associate Specialists

Mr Christopher Liao

Secretary - 01493 452233

Mr Sandeep Joglekar

MBBS, MS, FEBS (Breast surgery), FRCS (Edinburgh), PG Diploma (Medical Education)

Specialties:

Breast Surgery

General Surgery

Endoscopy

Experience:

Associate Specialist Breast and General Surgery at JPUH since 2010.

Qualified at Pune University, India in 1993 (MBBS), completed MS General Surgery at Pune University, India (1996). Obtained FRCS in 2003. Did Breast oncoplastic fellowship for a year at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby 2014. Obtained FEBS (European Board fellowship) Breast surgery in 2015. Completed PG Diploma in Medical Education from University of Hertfordshire with Distinction (2021).

Interests include breast reconstruction and surgical training.

Current roles:

MRCS examiner for Royal College of Surgeons England

Foundation Training Programme Director (FY2) at JPUH

Physician Associate Examiner

JAG accredited Endoscopist and Trainer at JPUH

GMC Assessor for Fitness to Practice Procedures

Faculty for Basic Surgical Skills course and Core Laparoscopic Skills Course at RCS, England

Secretary: Laura Cooper - Contact details; 01493 453446.

Mr Balakrisan Saravanan

Secretary - 01493 452158

Mr Iqbal Rajput

Secretary - 01493 453446

Mr Sajjan Mathew

Secretary - 01493 453586

Mr Hazem Nasef

Secretary - 01493 452666

Key staff - Vascular Consultants

Mr Darren Morrow

BSc MBBS MSc FRCS

Consultant Vascular Surgeon

Specialties

Carotid endarterectomy surgery to prevent strokes
Leg bypass surgery to prevent amputations
Diabetic foot ulcers
Open and endovascular (keyhole) surgery to repair abdominal aortic aneurysms
Varicose vein surgery
Fistula surgery for haemodialysis

Experience

I studied medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London. I trained in general and vascular surgery in East Anglia and in Adelaide, South Australia. I was appointed as a Consultant Vascular Surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich and JamesPagetHospitals in 2006.

Additional information

Member of the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Member of the European Society for Vascular Surgery

Secretary - 01493 452377

Mr Matthew Armon

DM, FRCS, BM, BS, BMedSci

Consultant Vascular Surgeon

Specialities:

Vascular Surgery
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Open Aortic surgery
Carotid Surgery
Peripheral Arterial Disease

Experience:

Mr Armon qualified from Nottingham Medical School in 1989. He trained mainly in the Midlands, with a short stint in South Africa. He spent two years as a vascular research fellow and published his thesis and a number of papers on the Anatomy of AAAs and their suitability for endovascular repair.

He was appointed as the first exclusively vascular consultant surgeon to NNUH and JPUH in 2001.

Over subsequent years he has helped to develop the fourth busiest vascular unit in England providing a service to patients throughout Norfolk from Kings Lynn to Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Additional information:

Service Director for Vascular Surgery at NNUH
Regional Specialty Advisor to Royal College of Surgeons
Training Programme Director for Vascular Surgery in East Of England
Norfolk & Waveney AAA Screening Programme Clinical Director
Member of Vascular Society and European Society of Vascular Surgery

Secretary - 01493 452377

Mr Robert Brightwell

MD, FRCS

Consultant Vascular Surgeon

Specialities:

Carotid artery disease
Peripheral arterial disease
Minimally invasive varicose vein treatments
Aortic aneurysm – open and endovascular

Experience:

I graduated from the University of Southampton in 2000 and undertook my basic surgical training in East Anglia before moving to London. There I undertook research for my postgraduate Doctorate in Medicine from Imperial College London – my work sponsored by The Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Stroke Association.

Thereafter I completed my higher surgical training at national and international centres of excellence, including The Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital in Queensland, Australia.

It is a pleasure to be working in my native East Anglia where I live with my wife and two children.

Additional information:

Member of Vascular Society of Great Britain & Ireland, European Society of Vascular Surgery, Founding Member of British Society of Endovascular Therapy
Authored multiple book chapters and scientific papers on vascular and venous disease
Academic positions at Imperial College London, University of Queensland
Active researcher into improving safety for vascular patients

Secretary - 01493 452377

Ms Aseel Abuduruk

Secretary - 01493 452377

Key staff - Plastic Surgery Consultants

Mr Nicholas Sheppard

Secretary - 01493 452232

Mr Daniel Morritt

Secretary - 01493 452232

Mr Guido Koehler

Secretary - 01493 452232

Mr Danish Imran

Secretary - 01493 452232