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Mr Massimo Varcada is a general surgeon based at the Royal Free London Private Patients Unit and St John & St Elizabeth Hospital. He has expertise in upper and lower GI endoscopy (EMR-ESD), pelvic floor surgery, and endoscopic trans-rectal ultrasound.

He was appointed a consultant surgeon in 2010 with primary interests in emergency and colon-rectal surgery. In 2019 he also became an Honorary Associate Professor in General and Colorectal Surgery at UCL Medical School, where he actively supervises clinical research as part of his responsibilities. He is also the primary investigator for clinical trials at UCL Medical School and a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) reviewer, with two approved reviews in 2018–19.

Mr Varcada completed his higher surgical training in general and colorectal surgery at the Royal Free Hospital before passing the FRCS exam and the European Board Qualification Examination in Coloproctology (FEBSQ). He also undertook a fellowship (2010) at PYNE Hospital, Hong Kong, under the supervision of Prof. Li, where he enhanced his skills in robotic surgery and endo-laparoscopic procedures. Additionally, during a fellowship in Japan (NCC Tokyo), he developed my skills in advanced endoscopy, acquiring competence in endoscopic stenting of obstructed colonic tumours, upper-lower GI endoscopic submucosal resection (EMR) and dissection (ESD), and chromo-endoscopy.

Mr Varcada is a core member of the London Cancer Network, with excellent results, audited nationally, and published on the NBoCa and ACPGBI websites.

He is also involved in quality improvement, and in 2011, he designed a new consultant-led emergency surgical service (SAU); between November 2013 and 2016, he was the service line lead.

Data show improved patient outcomes, with one of the lowest mortality rates for emergency surgery in the UK (Dr Foster). The LOS to date is below the national average and well below the peer benchmark.