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PROFILE

Mr. Massimo Varcada, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon Consultant Surgeon, Honorary Senior Lecturer UCL Medical School, Clinical Lead For General Surgery at Royal Free London

Mr. Massimo Varcada, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon

Consultant Surgeon, Honorary Senior Lecturer UCL Medical School, Clinical Lead For General Surgery at Royal Free London

MD, FRCS (Eng.), FEBS (Coloproct.)

Massimo’s primary interests are Emergency and Colo-rectal Surgery and he has expertise in Upper-Lower GI endoscopy, pelvic floor surgery and endoscopic transrectal ultrasound. His post CCST training included a fellowship (2010) at PYNE Hospital, Hong Kong under supervision of Prof. Li, where he enhanched his skills in robotic surgery endo-laparoscopic procedures and emergency laparoscopic surgery.

Massimo has done a further fellowship in Japan (NCC Tokyo) where he developed his skills in advanced endoscopy, acquiring competence in endoscopic stenting of obstructed colonic tumour, Upper-Lower GI Endoscopic Sub-Mucosal Resection (EMR), Dissection (ESD), and Chromo-endoscopy.

As a consultant at the Royal Free Hospital Massimo has re-organized the Emergency Surgical Service, creating a dedicated surgical admission unit with clear operational policies. He believes the key to delivering a high quality patient service requires realistic and practical pathways and a Consultant delivered service.The Royal Free Hospital experience has been used and mentioned in a large national document released by Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, “The Benefit of Consultant Delivered Care”, January 2012.

In 2012, Massimo lead the acute surgical SAFE Audit, from London Health Programme. Following that a business case was approved for a dedicated 24/7 emergency theatre and as a lead for Surgery Massimo has overseen the appointments of two new surgical consultants to support both the emergency and laparoscopic colorectal service.

He was appointed Service Line Lead for General Surgery and demonstrated clear leadership in the implementation and provision of the service. Following his appointment, the use of laparoscopy has been extended to emergency surgery. Furthermore Massimo has introduced the endoscopic stenting for lower GI malignany, and two new procedures: endolaparoscopic double-balloon endoscopy and trans-anal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS)

He is a core member of the colorectal cancer team at the Royal Free Hospital and surgical outcomes are Audited on the NBOCAP database. Since 2013, Massimo has been Honorary Secretary for International Affairs, Council of Coloproctology, Royal Society for Medicine. He is attending monthly MDT for pelvic floor and I has experience in anorectal Physiology (Louise Ryan Unit, Royal Free Hospital). Massimo also has experience in perineal recto-sigmoidectomy, sphincter repairs, bioplastic augmentetion, SNS.

In 2013, he was been appointed board member of the London General Surgery Clinical Leadership Group for NHS Strategic Clinical Network, NHS London. He has successfully applied for The Sponsorship of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) for GMC Registration. In collaboration with The Registration Directorate of General Medical Council I have put in place an assessment process that allows the “Academic Department of Surgery RFH” to sponsor International Medical Graduates wishing to obtain full GMC registration for further specialist training in the UK

Massimo has the following teaching and training responsibilities:

  •  Clinical examiner in surgery in the final MBBS examinations UCL Medical School.
  •  London Deanery Annual Reviewer of Competency Progression (ARCP)
  •  Consultant ST trainer at Post graduated school of surgery, Clinical Skills Centre, Imperial College, St. Mary campus.
  •  Educational Supervisor in general and emergency surgery FY1/FY2 doctors Post-graduate Medical Education RFH London Deanery.
  •  Core Surgery matching assessor and SITE (Surgical In Training Evaluation) for Core Surgery trainees.
  •  Faculty for the Laparoscopic Colorectal Module at Royal Free Hospital medical simulation Centre, London Deanery.

He has direct responsibility in post-graduated surgical training of EEA doctors and has organised a travelling fellowship program for doctors wishing to acquire greater competency and pursue research in Colorectal Surgery. To date, seven EEA trainees have completed the fellowship.

In 2014 Massimo was appointed Honorary Senior Lecturer in Surgery, Academic Division of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital and UCL.