Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is a regional sub-specialty service based at University Hospital of North Durham. It serves a population of 1.6 million people in the Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Cumbria.

The department has nine consultants with special interests in breast reconstruction, skin cancers, hands and hypospadias. Some of the services offered as listed below:

Skin cancer and soft tissue tumours - all types of skin cancer
Sentinel lymphnode biopsy
Breast reconstruction - free flap and implant based reconstruction, nipple reconstruction & tattooing
Breast aesthetic surgery (requires funding approval) - breast reduction, breast augmentation, removal of breast implants, breast uplift
Hand surgery - congenital hands, Dupuytren's contracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, complex hand trauma reconstruction
Trauma - all type of hand trauma, soft tissue trauma, dog bites, soft tissue infections
Hypospadias surgery
Penile cancer reconstruction (done at Sunderland with Urologists)

Abdominal wall and perineal reconstruction
General plastic surgery - lumps and bumps, scar management

Major in-patient procedures are carried out at the University Hospital of North Durham (UHND).

Day case procedures are carried out at:

University Hospital of North Durham
Darlington Memorial Hospital
Bishop Auckland Hospital
Shotley Bridge Hospital

Outpatient clinics are based at:

University Hospital of North Durham
Darlington Memorial Hospital
Sunderland Royal Hospital
South Tyneside Hospital
Chester le Street Community Hospital

The department has following staff:

Consultants - 9
Trainee Registrars - 4
Trust Grade - 2
Associate specialist grade - 2
CT trainees - 3
FY trainees - 2

Breast care nurse specialist - 1
Skin cancer nurse specialist - 1
Dressing clinic nurses - 3
Secretaries - 6