Consultant Surgeon Mr Douglas Donaldson, who is one of eight members of his family who have devoted their careers to the National Health Service, is to retire at the end of the month. (March 31) Mr Donaldson has specialised in an area of work that the public often find difficult to talk about – colorectal surgery.

Mr Donaldson began his medical training at St. Andrew’s University Medical School, followed by Dundee, qualifying in 1974. His father, aunt, uncle, brother, wife, daughter and son all went in for Medicine, and have worked in the NHS.

Asked what attracted him to surgery and his specialist field Mr Donaldson said: “Being able to use the combination of medical knowledge and technical skills to improve patients’ lives drew me towards this work as colorectal problems are so common.”

There have been many advances since he joined St. Peter’s Hospital in 1987.  In those days patients suffering from chronic duodenal or gastric ulcers had to undergo complex operations, often with side-effects including a reduction in the size of their stomach.  Nowadays the Helicobacter which causes theses ulcers in the stomach can be cured in one week with triple therapy including antibiotics.

Patients with ulcerative colitis who are not cured with medical treatment no longer face the future with a permanent stoma. Instead they have an operation first carried out by Mr Donaldson in 1989 where the large colon is removed and the small bowel is used to make a new rectum which allows the patient to pass stools through the anus without the need for a stoma.

The reputation for colorectal work as a centre of excellence has grown and Mr Donaldson now has three specialist consultant surgeon colleagues, Mr Humphrey Scott, Mr Philip Bearn and Col. Keith Galbraith supported by a team of Specialist nurses.

Said Mr Donaldson: “During my 21 years at St. Peter’s it has been a pleasure and a privilege to have worked with all the staff on the wards, in theatre, endoscopy and the outpatients department.”

Mr Donaldson has also enjoyed the teaching side of his work and he both teaches and examines surgical candidates at home and abroad.  He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College, London.  He will continue examining for the Edinburgh Surgical College, working for the General Medical Council as well as the Association of Surgeons of which Mr Donaldson is a Council Member.  He will also continue with his private work locally.

In his free time Mr Donaldson, of West Byfleet, is looking forward to playing golf, walking, travelling singing and painting.