General surgery

The Department of General Surgery is made up of nine surgeons, who form the Colorectal team (five surgeons) and the Upper Gastrointestinal team (four surgeons). The Department provides emergency general surgery to the Bradford area.

The Surgical Assessment Unit is based on ward 20 and patients are referred there directly from GPs, A&E and outpatients for assessment and treatment.

The service is consultant-led with twice daily ward rounds and is supported by acute radiology and acute theatres. The assessment area is staffed by senior nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, and junior doctors.

Paediatric surgical emergencies are seen in Bradford but only some conditions. For example, appendicitis and abscesses are treated in Bradford. More complex cases are referred to Leeds.

Elective activity

The colorectal team provide a wide range of services, including:

• treatment for colon and rectal cancer
• a multi-disciplinary team for the treatment of colon malignancy
• advanced laproscopic colon surgery
• The Early Rectal Cancer Tertiary Referral Centre
• surgery for inflammatory bowel disease and multi-disciplinary assessment
• pelvic floor clinic
• emergency and outpatient assessment of rectal bleeding and anorectal conditions

The upper GI team provide a wide range of services, including:

• assessment and surgical treatment of patients with gastric and esophageal cancer
• provision of the multi-disciplinary team for gastric and oesophageal cancer for West Yorkshire (including Airedale and Calderdale)
• bariatric surgery for patients with morbid obesity through the bariatric multi-disciplinary team
• assessment and surgical treatment of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), hiatus hernia and dysmotility

Both teams will electively treat patients with gallstone disease, all abdominal wall hernia, and various skin lesions.

There is no elective pancreatic or thoracic surgery in Bradford. Patients requiring major pancreatic or thoracic surgery are referred to Leeds.

The general surgical team do not see elective paediatric patients nor carry out elective paediatric surgery. However, Mr Crabbe, a specialist paediatric surgeon from Leeds, holds regular clinics and theatre lists from Bradford.

Our talented and compassionate staff care for a diverse population, which is what makes Bradford such a special place to work. Choosing the right people is key to our success. If you think you’ve got what it takes, please contact us by email at careers@bthft.nhs.uk to discover more about our latest opportunities.