Our colorectal surgery team has been recognised by the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) as an Accredited Pouch Centre – one of only 22 trusts in the UK to receive this.

Our Trust went through a rigorous process and is now recognised as a benchmark for quality in performing pouch surgery, used to treat patients with ulcerative colitis (a chronic inflammatory bowel disease). Pouch surgery is when most of the large bowel is removed, and the small bowel is joined to the anus. The pouch is made from the small bowel to store poo until the patient needs to go to the toilet.

Being a specialist pouch centre, performing robotic and laparoscopic procedures, means we can care for complex ulcerative colitis patients from the surrounding region, therefore performing a higher volume of these cases (which are generally rare) than non-specialist centres.

Regularly performing these procedures gives our surgeons more experience and leads to better results for patients. We’re one of only three units in London performing robotic pouches regularly.

We were already receiving referrals from the Princess Alexandra and Whipps Cross hospitals for ileoanal pouch surgery, this accreditation will enable us to build on this complex specialist service and deliver better care for patients. Being recognised by the ACPGBI will ensure more referrals and hopefully encourage other centres to have specialist units so patients receive better aftercare. 

Nirooshun Rajendran, Lead for Colorectal Surgery, said: “I am extremely proud of the whole team for their hard work to enable us to gain this accreditation.

“We all work to maintain high standards of surgical care across our hospitals and receiving the accreditation is confirmation of this. For our patients, the benefits of being a pouch centre include a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery.”