General Surgery
A large specialty containing many sub-specialties including: breast, colorectal, endocrine, upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI), transplant (of kidney, liver, pancreas) and vascular. Laparoscopic surgery may also be practised as a sub-specialty and is used across all general surgery.
General Surgery Higher Specialty Trainees (HSTs) will rotate through the four subspecialties in the first two years followed by four years of targeted training which will include the final two years in dedicated subspecialty training, which may include a year in a London Teaching Hospital.
As well as the training received within the hospitals, there are approximately 8 study days which are mandatory for trainees to attend and over the six years of higher surgical training most of the syllabus is covered. Trainees are also encouraged to attend national and international courses and conferences to further develop their knowledge.
Educational and Clinical Teams
Mr Tim Campbell-Smith
Educational Lead
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Mr Neil Smith
Clinical Lead
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Mr Neil Smith is a consultant general and colorectal surgeon. He was born and grew up in Kent, and studied medicine at Wadham College, Oxford University, where he undertook an intercalated Master of Arts degree for which he was awarded a ‘First’. He completed his clinical studies for the MB BS degree at St. George’s Hospital Medical School, in London, graduating in 1996 with Distinctions in final examinations in four subject areas including Surgery. He was awarded Honours in three of these (Surgery, Medicine, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology) by the University of London.
Postgraduate surgical training was completed in hospitals in London and Surrey, and Mr Smith spent two years in full-time cancer research at the Royal Marsden Hospital, investigating the significance and detection of blood vessel invasion in colorectal (bowel) cancer. For his thesis he was awarded a doctoral masters degree (MS, Master of Surgery) by the University of London in 2009.
Mr Neil Smith was appointed as a Consultant Surgeon at Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust in 2008. He has developed and established the laparoscopic colorectal surgery practice at the Trust for both benign and malignant bowel diseases, working closely with Mr Tim Campbell-Smith. He wrote the Enhanced Recovery Protocol for colorectal surgery which has now been adopted by colleagues in other specialities, and is the service development lead for colorectal cancer and the training lead for gastrointestinal endoscopy. He has weekly outpatient clinics at East Surrey Hospital and alternate-weekly at Crawley Hospital.
Mr Ian Maheswaran
Chief of Surgery
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Prior to joining Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Mr Maheswaran undertook a National Bariatric Surgical Fellowship at St. Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, a Centre of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery where he now holds an honorary contract. Working alongside the St.Richard’s multi- disciplinary team he provides a full Obesity Service. His other specialities include endoscopy, gall bladder disease, pancreatitis, anti-reflux and hernia surgery. He collaborates with colleague’s to provide a Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy, Complex Hernia Repair and Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Service. Both elective and emergency operations are undertaken.
Mr Maheswaran is particularly interested in Medical Education having undertaken two Master’s Degrees and a London Deanery Fellowship in Education where he set up and delivered simulation training in order to improve patient safety and outcomes and is the Training Programme Director for Core Surgery Trainees in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. He is also Clinical Lead for the Trust Cost Improvement Program.
Mr Maheswaran is driven to deliver high quality, safe, patient centred care to the local community being born and raised in Redhill where his parents had combined over 50 years of service within the Trust. He very much regards the community as his friends and family.
Professional memberships include the Association of Upper GI Surgeons (AUGIS), British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS), Society of American Gastroenterology and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).
Upper GI
Mr Ian Maheswaran
Mr Ajay Belgakumar
Mr Alan James
Mr Paras Jethwa
Mr Simon Monkhouse
Colorectal
Mr Mohammad Aslam
Mr Andrew Day
Mr John Grabham
Mr Neil Smith
Mr Tim Campbell-Smith
Mr Oliver Shihab
Mr Moutaz Alkhusheh
Wards Covered
- Brook
- Copthorne
- Tandridge
- Woodland
Education Campus Reception
01737 231722
