
Beyond a Surgeon — A Steady Hand in the Storm
There are doctors who perform surgeries, and then there are those rare few who walk with you through the storm. My wife recently underwent a lobectomy with HCA and then weeks later a second lung surgery for a rare complication. In the chaos of fear, questions, and uncertainty, we were fortunate enough to have a surgeon who brought not only skill, but clarity, calm, and genuine care.
Mr Routledge came highly recommended by my wife’s consultant who himself had a similar procedure under the care of Mr Routledge. With his extensive experience and a pioneer of robotic surgery, we knew he was the right choice from the start.
From the very first consultation, he treated my wife not as a case, but as a whole person. He treated me, as her husband, as part of the team — keeping me informed pre and post surgery, prepared, and emotionally equipped to support her every step of the way. His communication wasn’t just professional — it was human, warm, and crystal-clear, even when explaining the most complex details.
Mr Routledge made himself available anytime via phone and visited my wife daily during both of her stays in hospital. In each interaction, he showed compassion and empathy - understanding my wife’s anxiety, her fears, and need for a calming, positive reassurance when required.
Mr Routledge wasn’t just someone who showed up in the operating theatre. He was present — involved, attentive, and engaged at every point in her journey, before and after the procedure. That level of care and attentiveness is rare. The nurses were even surprised that Mr Routledge was so responsive to their texts and would quickly come back to them on any guidance or next steps needed!
Suffice to say, trust came naturally. We didn’t have to force it, build it, or question it. It was simply there — earned every day in the way he showed up for us. And because of that, my wife was able to get through both surgeries with full trust and confidence in him. She was able to put all her worries aside and be at ease knowing she was in the best hands and he would be there taking care of her when she was at her most vulnerable.
If you are ever in the position of needing a Thoracic surgeon, you won’t just want someone with technical excellence (though he has that in buckets) — you’ll want someone who will carry the emotional weight with you, who respects the gravity of what you’re going through, and who gives you the gift of steady confidence when your own is faltering. You’ll want someone who is open and honest but who will always provide the best advice and options because they truly care. That’s what we had. You’ll want Mr Routledge because he’s the best of the best. My wife said being under Mr Routledge’s care was the best decision she could have made for herself, she couldn’t imagine what this process and recovery would have been like without him. He has been a source of huge comfort and support for both of us.
We don’t just thank him — we’ll never forget him.
Mr Bhambra
Seen for:
Thoracic (Lung) Surgery