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The colorectal department at Hillingdon Hospital provides high levels of effective care, with cutting edge technology.

Our service has an established straight-to-test team (STT) which fast tracks investigations for the management of all suspected colorectal cancer. This allows us to screen, diagnose and treat patients with cancers of the colon, rectum and anus using the latest high-resolution imaging techniques, including CT, MRI and PET-CT, where applicable.

We provide all patients with a key worker early in the management pathway so there is always a point of contact. Furthermore, each case is discussed in our multidisciplinary team meeting to ensure optimal decision making.

In addition, we provide expertise in robotic surgery which is a new type of minimally invasive surgery along with keyhole surgery for many patients requiring an operation.

Our consultants also specialise in benign cases of the bowel such as, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis and Diverticular disease.

We work closely with our colleagues in radiology, oncology, pathology, gastroenterology and endoscopy - where you might undergo a colonoscopy - to provide patient-centred diagnostic pathways and tailored care.  

Our service provides a well-established enhanced recovery service. Enhanced recovery is sometimes referred to as rapid or accelerated recovery. It aims to ensure that patients are as healthy as possible before embarking on surgery, receiving the best possible care during their operation and receive the best possible care whilst recovering.

Our specialist nurses provide a nurse-led, stratified follow up clinic. 

The nurse-led clinic enables patients to be followed up by a registered colorectal clinical nurse specialist. There are many benefits to the service, one being that the patient is seen by their keyworker who provides a comprehensive holistic assessment whilst maintaining continuity of care. Furthermore, your surveillance tests are requested at the correct times and results are discussed with you once reported.

Contact us

You can call the service directly on 01895 279391.

Conditions treated

• colorectal cancer
• colorectal polyps
• inflammatory bowel disease
• functional bowel disorders (constipation, incontinence and obstructed defecation)
• anorectal conditions including haemorrhoids (piles)
• anal fissures, anal fistulas, rectal prolapses and pelvic floor assessment and treatments.

Please go to www.nhs.uk here, and search using the A-Z to learn more about these conditions.

Colorectal specialist nurses

Upon diagnosis and throughout your colorectal cancer pathway, you and your family will have a single point of access to one of our colorectal nurse specialists (CNS) to answer any queries you may have regarding your diagnosis. Your CNS works closely with your team and can be contacted Monday-Friday. Additionally, your CNS can provide support/information with many aspects of living with colorectal cancer such as emotional, physical, social, and financial needs.

Your CNS will offer you a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA). This is an assessment designed to enable you to share information with your team which is important to the treatment and care you receive. Many people find the assessment helpful as it allows you to raise and discuss any concerns which you may have. If you feel a HNA would be helpful, please contact your CNS.

Stoma nurse specialist

Our stoma nurse specialists provide, stoma training, advice and educational support to those undergoing stoma surgery and new established ostomists, this also extends to patients that have been established for some time. We supply up-to-date information and promote optimum rehabilitation to our patients.

Stoma and your surgery

Before surgery you will have the opportunity to discuss some of the following.

• lifestyles
• sexual matters
• diet
• holiday and travel
• body image
• exercise
• prevention of parastomal hernias
• stoma function

Following surgery, you will have frequent visits on the ward. Once you are able, we will begin to teach you how to care for your stoma and provide you with all the up-to-date information you require to manage your stoma with confidence.

Mr Yasser Mohsen

Mr Mohsen has been practising laparoscopic colorectal surgery for approximately 20 years. He trained in hospitals around London and has extensive experience in bowel cancer and minimally invasive techniques for rectal cancer, such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM/TAMIS).

Mr Simon Harris

Mr Harris is an extremely experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeon who trained in London and South of England.  He is widely regarded as an excellent trainer of junior surgeons.

Mr Ash Prabhudesai

Mr Prabhudesai is an extremely experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeon with a wide variety of interest. He trained extensively in England including at St Mark's Hospital. He is joint head of department for surgery and urology.

Mr Alistair Myers

Trained in the UK and Australia. Consultant at Hillingdon since March 2011. Specialist interests in colon and particularly rectal cancer, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, pelvic floor surgery and teaching and training future surgeons. Co-chair of RM Partners Cancer Alliance Colorectal Cancer Working Group since 2020. Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, member of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland and The Pelvic Floor Society. Has held various positions in Trust management, and currently lead for colorectal and robotic surgery at Hillingdon.

Mr Alistair Slesser

Mr Slesser is an extremely experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeon who trained in North West London and at St Mark's Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. He is joint head of department for surgery and urology.

Trushma Patel

Macmillan lead colorectal clinical nurse specialist

Patricia Whale

Macmillan lead colorectal/stoma clinical nurse speacialist

Claire King

Colorectal/stoma clinical nurse specialist

Teresa Parkin

Colorectal/stoma clinical nurse specialist

Julie Body

Stoma support worker