Bariatric and Upper GI Surgery
Welcome to the Bariatric and Upper Gastrointestinal Service at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
Bariatric (weight loss) surgery has been performed at the Trust since 2002. It is proven to produce substantial, maintained weight loss, which is vital in significantly reducing the risk of serious health problems as well as improving quality of life.
It is a decision that should not be taken without serious consideration. Surgery is a tool to assist with weight loss. It requires a sustained level of motivation, a combination of healthy eating and longer-term lifestyle changes to be successful.
The information in this section aims to give an insight into Bariatric surgery right from the initial decision to have surgery, to advice on your new life afterwards.
Types of Surgery
The main types of Bariatric surgery performed at the Trust are:
- Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Intragastric balloon
If you are interested in being referred for bariatric surgery, please make an appointment to see your GP, who will advise you.
Shropshire Bariatric Support Group
A support group run by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Bariatric team for patients who are having or have had weight loss surgery, or those wanting to lose weight without surgery.
Meetings are held at the Telford Football Ground 18:45 – 19:45
- 16th January 2023
- 6th March 2023
For further information please email sath.bariatrics@nhs.net.
The support group have set up their own Facebook page ‘Shropshire Bariatric Support group’ Please have a look at it if you are interested.
Further information is available from:
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
We act on your behalf when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and where appropriate, relevant organisations to negotiate immediate or prompt solutions. We can also help you get support from other local or national agencies.
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Tel: 0800 783 0057 or 01743 261691
Princess Royal Hospital, Tel: 01952 282888
Other Sources of Information
A fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
Telephone: 111 (free from a landline or mobile)
Provides leaflets on health and disease translated into 11 other languages as well as links to national support/self-help groups and a directory of UK health websites.
A selection of websites providing access to good quality patient and consumer health information, covering specific age groups and conditions.
Also includes Shropshire Community Directory which contains up-to-date information on community groups, clubs, societies, organisations, support groups and self-help groups covering Shropshire and its borders.
Key Info
Contact Us
Tel: 01743 261000
Email: sath.bariatrics@nhs.net
You can also read one of our patient’s success stories.
Interested in working with us?
For more information about vacancies in the Trust please visit our Belong to Something website.
Associated Wards and Services
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Surgery
Surgeons
Mr Saurav Chakravartty MBBS MS MD FRCS (Gen Surg)
Mr Chakravartty is a Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal, bariatric and emergency surgeon at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH). He undertook higher surgical training in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) Deanery. His special interest lies in bariatric (weight loss/metabolic) surgery and has trained in three different high volume bariatric centres in the UK.
He has undertaken research in bariatric surgery in King’s College London and his thesis led to an MD degree (2014). He has completed a specialist 12 month Royal College of Surgeons of England approved Fellowship in bariatric surgery in St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester (2020-2021). In addition, his operative expertise includes laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery, laparoscopic gall bladder surgery, laparoscopic and open hernia surgery, gastroscopy and all forms of emergency general surgery. His particular interest in research has led to publication of over 25 papers, multiple international and national presentations, some of which have led to prizes and he has authored two book chapters in bariatric surgery. He has been an Associate Principle Investigator in the SUNFLOWER study, a collaborator in multicentre national studies (RICOCHET, CHOLECOVID, PANC) and has set up several research trials.
Mr Chakravartty is a member of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS).
He has been a regular examiner for medical students and an instructor in different surgical skills courses for junior doctors. He has been a faculty member for teaching King’s College Nutrition and Dietetics MSc course, faculty for regional training sessions for senior surgical trainees. He has also set up training workshops and interview training courses for aspiring surgeons (Specialist Trainees)
Mr Chakravartty is an honorary clinical lecturer in surgery at Keele University Medical School.
He is Lead Clinician for Theatre Efficiency at SaTH.
Secretary contact: 01743 261000 (Ext.2417)
Mr Rajesh Jain MBBS MS FRCS (Gen. Surg)
Mr Rajesh Kumar Jain is a Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgeon at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SATH). Having obtained his primary medical qualification and post-graduation in India, he pursued his further higher surgical training in United Kingdom. He has trained in London and the North East Deanery and has also completed specialist Fellowships in bariatric surgery at the tertiary unit St Georges Hospital, London and then in Oesophago-Gastric Cancer surgery at the Royal Surrey Hospital, Guildford.
Mr Jain’s specialist interests lies in upper gastrointestinal conditions including gallstone disease. He also has a practice in open and laparoscopic hernia surgery and offers advanced laparoscopic techniques for bariatric surgery (gastric banding, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy), anti-reflux surgery (fundoplication, hiatus hernia repair including para-oesophageal hernia) and achalasia.
Mr Jain in a member of the Association of Upper GI Surgeons, British Obesity and Metabolic Surgical Society, Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Hernia Society.
He is a Clinical Supervisor for Foundation Doctors, Core Trainees and Specialty Trainees at SaTH.
Secretary contact: 01743261459
Mr George Kirby MB ChB FRCS
Mr George Kirby is a Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgeon at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH). He completed higher surgical training in the West Midlands Deanery and following this had a year of specialist bariatric training in the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. He has a specialist interest in bariatric surgery undertaking laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. He performs upper GI endoscopy, including gastric balloon procedures. His additional interest lies in the surgical management of benign upper gastrointestinal disease such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, hiatus hernia, and gallstone disease.
He has an emergency and elective general surgical practice.
He has published and presented research internationally on topics including quality improvement in the safety of bariatric surgery.
Mr Kirby is a member of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS).
From an educational perspective, he is an honorary clinical lecturer in surgery at Keele University Medical School and he is a Clinical Supervisor for Foundation Doctors, Core Trainees and Specialty Trainees at SaTH.
He is Lead Clinician for Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery at SaTH.
Secretary contact: 01743 261000 (Ext. 2417)
Mr James Rink MB BChir, MPhil, FRCS (Gen Surg)
Mr James Rink is a Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) having completed higher surgical training in the South West Deanery and senior training at Level 1 bariatric units including the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. His specialist interests lie in bariatric surgery including gastric band, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric balloon. He also offers advanced laparoscopic surgery for gallstone disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux, hiatus hernia and achalasia.
From a research perspective he was awarded an MPhil by the University of Cambridge investigating epidemiological factors in surgery.
Mr Rink is a member of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society.
He is a Clinical and Educational Supervisor for Foundation Doctors, Core Trainees and Specialty Trainees at SaTH.
Mr Rink is the Lead Clinician for Surgical Governance at SaTH.
Secretary contact: 01743 261000 (Ext. 2417)
Mr Manel Riera MD FRCSEd (Gen Surg)
Mr Manel Riera is a Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgeon at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) having completed higher surgical training in the East of England Deanery and senior training at Level 1 bariatric units including Musgrove Park Hospital. He has a specialist interest in bariatric surgery including gastric bypass, gastric band, gastric sleeve, endoscopic balloon and complex revisional bariatric surgery. He also specialises in the management of upper gastrointestinal conditions, including gallstone disease, pancreatitis, oesophageal reflux and motility disorders.
He undertook research into the mechanisms of peritoneal metastasis from gastric cancer and was awarded an MD by the University of Liverpool for a thesis on this subject. His research was presented at national and international meetings and published in peer reviewed scientific journals.
He is a member of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders.
Mr Riera is the current Link Consultant for the RCS England approved Senior Clinical Fellowship in Advanced Bariatric Surgery at SaTH and is a Clinical and Educational Supervisor for Foundation Doctors, Core Trainees and Specialty Trainees at SaTH.
Secretary contact: 01743 261000 (Ext. 2418)
Mr Umesh Parampalli MBBS MS MCh FRCS Ed (Gen Surg)
Mr Parampalli is a Consultant in Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust. He completed higher surgical training in the Kent, Sussex and Surrey (KSS) Deanery. Mr Parampalli undertook a specialist post CCT Fellowship in bariatric and anti-reflux surgery at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals, Chertsey. He has also worked at the Homerton Hospital, a high-volume tertiary bariatric unit as a Fellow during his training.
His operative expertise is in the field of bariatric surgery with procedures such as laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and bariatric emergencies. He also specialises in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, open and laparoscopic hernia repairs, gastro-oesophageal reflux and motility disorders, hiatus hernias, adrenal surgeries and upper GI endoscopy.
Mr Parampalli is a member of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS), the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) and the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons (BAETS).
From the research perspective, he was awarded a MCh Degree from the Canterbury Christchurch University for submission of a dissertation comparing the outcomes of the two most bariatric surgery techniques. He has completed the Master of Surgery Post Graduate Degree from the Bangalore Medical College, India before coming to the UK.
He is Faculty for the Phoenix FRCS course and is a Clinical Supervisor for Foundation Year doctors at SaTH.
He is Lead Clinician for Adrenal Surgery and the Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (CAWR) service at SaTH.
Secretary contact: 01743 261000 (Ext. 2418)
Secretary contact: 01743261681