Dr Craig Barrington

Dr Craig Barrington is a highly dedicated Consultant Clinical Oncologist who specialises in the treatment of lower gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal and anal cancers. He also provides expert care within the Acute Oncology Service, ensuring that patients facing urgent cancer-related complications receive prompt and effective management. With a patient-centred approach, Dr Barrington is committed to delivering advanced, evidence-based oncological care that prioritises both survival and long-term quality of life.

A key area of clinical interest for Dr Barrington is organ preservation approaches for rectal cancer, allowing patients to avoid invasive surgeries and permanent stomas where possible. He has been at the forefront of introducing cutting-edge treatments, notably leading the introduction of the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Additionally, he has pioneered innovative protocols such as the genetic-testing-guided re-challenge of panitumumab for specific colon cancer patients, and is actively involved in bringing contact radiotherapy and developing national multidisciplinary team frameworks to improve early rectal cancer care.

Dr Barrington graduated from Newcastle University Medical School in 2011, having previously completed a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at Durham University. He is highly active in clinical governance and professional development, serving as a Morbidity and Mortality and Audit Lead. He contributes to national oncology standards as a member of the National Steering Group for the Royal College of Radiologists National Radiotherapy consent forms and co-authored the rectal chapter of the Royal College of Radiologists Dose and Fractionation guidelines.