About the Department
The anaesthetics team work closely with our surgical teams to limit the sensation of pain during procedures. Staff also work closely with our pain management and critical care teams.
Depending on your treatment, you may be given a local or general anaesthetic. The anaesthetist will discuss this with you before the procedure and this will allow you to ask any questions you may have. They will be with you throughout any surgical intervention to monitor your condition. There can be reactions to anaesthetic medication and this may depend on your health history. Our staff will be able to reduce or mitigate these risks.
You may be given an anaesthetic as an injection, gas, ointment, spray, or drops, depending on the type and procedure.
You may experience some side effects due to the anaesthesia. We will try to limit this but their may be nausea, headache, irritation, or soreness. These are natural and will pass quickly but can also be managed with medication. As with all surgical procedures, you will be kept in recovery until you are able to go back to the wards. In the case of day surgery, where the effects may be milder, you will be able to leave after a period of rest and under supervision from a friend or relative.
Types of Anaesthesia
Anaesthesia stops you feeling pain and other sensations. It can be given in various ways and does not always make you unconscious.
Local anaesthesia involves injections which numb a small part of your body. You stay conscious but free from pain.
Regional anaesthesia involves injections which numb a larger or deeper part of the body. You stay conscious but free from pain.
General anaesthesia gives a state of controlled unconsciousness. It is essential for some operations. You are unconscious and feel nothing.
Sedation is the use of small amounts of anaesthetic or similar drugs to produce a ‘sleepy-like’ state. It makes you physically and mentally relaxed during an investigation or procedure which may be unpleasant or painful (such as an endoscopy). You may remember a little about what happened or you may remember nothing.
Combining types of anaesthesia
Anaesthetic drugs and techniques are often combined, e.g.:
- A regional anaesthetic may be given as well as a general anaesthetic to provide pain relief after the operation.
- Sedation may be used with a regional anaesthetic. The regional or local anaesthetic prevents you from feeling pain, and the sedation makes you feel drowsy and mentally relaxed during the operation.
Further information on some types of regional anaesthetics is available in separate leaflets, or on the following website: www.youranaesthetic.info
Anaesthetists
Anaesthetists are doctors with specialist training who:
- Discuss types of anaesthesia with you, hear your views, explain any choices available, and help you make those choices.
- Discuss the risks of anaesthesia with you.
- Agree a plan with you for your anaesthetic and pain control.
- Are responsible for giving your anaesthetic and for your wellbeing and safety throughout your surgery.
- Help to plan your care after the operation. This may be on a general ward, or, for patients with more complex medical problems, or having a major operation, in the High Dependency Unit or Intensive Care Unit.
Our Clinical Team
The consulting team in the department are:
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Dr Laura ADAMSGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Mauricio BALLESTEROSGMC: Associate Specialist in Anaesthetics |
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Dr Samantha BATT-RAWDENGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist |
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Dr Leonora BOWENGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Melinda BRAZIERGMC: 3563247 Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Tahira BUTTGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Giancarlo CAMILLERIGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Gary CHOWGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Jonathan COOPERGMC: 2747541 Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU), "tricky trips" |
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Dr Clare CUNNINGHAMGMC: 4294368 Consultant Anaesthetist Pre-Operative Assessment Clinics (POAC) Lead |
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Dr Michael DEVILEGMC: 6053293 Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Yew-Kwan DRAKEFORDGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Mark FLEETGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Alice GERTHGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Pardeep GILLGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist |
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Dr Nawkiran GREWALGMC: 3477173 Consultant Anaesthetist General adult anaesthetics |
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Dr Ian James HARTGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Richard HAWKINSGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Justin HEWSGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Philippa HIGGINSGMC: 4098809 Consultant Anaesthetist Vascular, gynae and upper GI anaesthesia |
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Dr Nazima HOQUEGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Tauqeer HUSAINGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Mohammed JAWADGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Mhairi JHUGURSINGGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Josephine JONESGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Audrius JURGELIONISGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Maria KHANGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Fatima KHATOONGMC: Locum Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Mark KUBLIGMC: 4067319 Consultant Anaesthetist Total IntraVenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) |
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Dr Anja KUTTLERGMC: 4158529 Consultant Anaesthetist Specialised paediatric anaesthetics |
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Dr Mark MACGREGORGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Clinical Lead for Vascular Anaesthesia |
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Dr Zain MALIKGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Robert MENZIESGMC: 4543440 Consultant Anaesthetist RCA tutor, paediatric and regional anaesthesia |
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Dr Alenka MILESGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Bariatric anaesthesia |
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Dr Dermot NOLANGMC: Locum Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Mike PARRISGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist MSC chair |
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Dr Anthony PARSONSGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Shilpa PATELGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Jonathan PIPEGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Caroline POCKNALLGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Stephen RAMAGEGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Sonia RASOLIGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist (due to start March 2026) |
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Dr Martin RAYMONDGMC: 4536477 Consultant Anaesthetist Anaesthetic Lead for Trauma and Hip Fractures |
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Dr Adam SAMWAYSGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Seliat SANUSIGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Barry SELLICKGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist |
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Dr Deep SHAHGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Nikunj SHAHGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) outreach lead |
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Dr Namita SHARMAGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Matthew SINNOTTGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist |
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Dr Karthik SOMASUNDARAMGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Moira WATTIEGMC: 4028109 Consultant Anaesthetist Specialty Lead for Day Surgery |
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Dr Ian Leslie WHITEGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Lara WIJAYASIRIGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Vascular anaesthesia |
Specialist Nursing
Our specialist nursing team provide the following care:
- Post operative pain management;
- Management of acute pain due to trauma, pancreatitis and other conditions;
- Management of epidural analgesia and patient controlled analgesia;
- Advice regarding prescribing for acute pain;
- Acute back pain
Our Location
We are based in the theatre departments on both sites. At St Peter's this is the building adjacent to the outpatients block on the third floor. At Ashford, the theatre unit is in the centre of the main building.
