The general surgery department provides comprehensive general, emergency and colorectal surgery across the trust. 

Elective general surgery takes place at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital. 

Our cancer and inflammatory bowel disease services are at the Royal Free Hospital. 

General surgery for benign diseases and conditions such as haemorrhoids, skin lesions and abdominal wall hernias are provided at Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital. 

We provide a broad range of general and complex surgery for our local community, as well as the North Central London Cancer Alliance.

Barnet Hospital

Outpatients: 020 8370 2588
Admissions: 020 8375 4000 ext 2331, 1918, 2249 or 2283

Email: rf-tr.barnetgeneralsurgeryenquries@nhs.net 

Monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Chase Farm Hospital

Outpatients: 020 8370 2588 
Admissions: 020 8375 4000 ext 2331, 1918, 2249 or 2283 

Royal Free Hospital

Outpatients: 020 7443 9757 
Admissions: 020 7830 2849, or 020 7794 0500 ext 35768

GPs can submit a referral for patients requiring general surgery via the NHS e-Referral Service.

Emergency patients are referred by the emergency department (A&E) or directly to the surgical team by their GP.

Elective general surgery takes place across our three main hospitals. 

The service performs procedures for common benign conditions of the anus, rectum, perineum and natal cleft. This includes treatment for: 

  • haemorrhoids 
  • anal fistulas
  • anal fissures
  • pilonidal sinus complications 

We also provide an abdominal wall hernia service, which involves performing procedures for common, simple abdominal wall hernias including inguinal hernia repair, umbilical hernia repair and others. 

Abdominal wall hernia procedures can be performed as open, laparoscopic (‘keyhole’) or robotic surgery. 

We aim to provide state-of-the-art care for patients with colorectal problems. We have a multidisciplinary team of specialists comprised of consultant surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals.

The team currently offer innovative minimally invasive techniques, such as trans-anal endoscopic microsurgery and robotic surgery, for a range of different colorectal problems.

At the Royal Free Hospital, the team perform high volume elective surgery for colorectal cancer (bowel cancer), anal cancer, cancers of the small intestine and inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis). 

Around 500 major colorectal cancer procedures are carried out each year with excellent short and long-term results.

The Royal Free Hospital is a tertiary referral centre for neuroendocrine tumours (NET) and manage around 70% of small bowel NET cases in the UK. The team of NET surgeons have received European Centre of Excellence accreditation from the European NET Society. 

Our high volume of complex cancer procedures has allowed us access to the latest breakthroughs in cancer research and we have patients who take part in national and international research studies. 

We provide emergency general surgery at Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital, where there is 24/7 acute general surgery cover at both sites and a 24/7 interventional radiology service at the Royal Free Hospital. 

All patients are seen by a consultant surgeon during daily ward rounds to facilitate efficient clinical decision making. 

There is dedicated access to emergency operating theatres to ensure patients get the surgical care they need at the right time. 

We are currently designing a new surgical assessment unit which will be located on the 7th floor of the Royal Free Hospital, to further enhance patient experience and satisfaction.

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