Mr Sajal Rai is a Consultant Surgeon based at the Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport, Cheshire. For the last six years at the Trust he has led on establishing and developing advanced keyhole or laparoscopic surgery for bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis), diverticular disease and pelvic floor disorders like prolapse of rectum. He designed and implemented the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Program at Stepping Hill for patients undergoing major bowel surgery. This has helped patients recover better and quicker after surgery with minimal risk of complications. Mr Rai is now part of a team of surgeons at Stepping Hill which has one of the best outcomes after bowel cancer surgery not only in the Greater Manchester region but in the country as well.
Mr Rai is also part of the Stockport Endometriosis Centre as the colorectal surgeon and operates closely with his gynaecologist colleagues on women with endometriosis who also require bowel surgery as part of their treatment. He also offers this service privately at the BMI Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Cheshire.
Main Specialist Interests:
Piles, fissures, fistulas, bowel cancer, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Rectal prolapse, gallstones and hernias.
Qualifications:
1993 Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Medicine, Pondicherry University, India.
1996 Masters in General Surgery (Residency), Pondicherry University, India.
1998 Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK,FRCS (Ed)
2004 Doctor of Medicine MD, University of Leicester (Thesis entitled: ‘Colorectal cancer: the prediction of Risk’
2008 Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons intercollegiate exam, FRCS (Gen)
2009 Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Fellowship at University Hospitals Bristol.
Clinical Positions:
Clinical Lead for Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery at the Stepping Hill Hospital.
Clinical Lead for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Program at Stepping Hill.
Co-lead for Cancer for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, representing the Trust at the Greater Manchester Cancer Network.
Non-clinical appointments:
Member of Court of Examiners at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.
Faculty member of RCS Edinburgh MRCS and FRCS part III exam courses.
International Faculty member of Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology.
Affiliation to Organisations:
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Member of Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI).
Member of Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland (ACPGBI).
Member of the Pelvic Floor Society of UK.
Interests away from work:
Mr Rai is married with three children, two teenage boys and a young daughter. Following in his father’s footsteps his eldest son is studying medicine at Girton College, Cambridge. Mr Rai enjoys spending time with his family and playing tennis and Cricket.