Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

For Ms Rana Madani, surgery is only one part of the story. The preparation before, and the recovery after, matter just as much — and over eight years as a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, she has set about transforming all three.

Serving as Colorectal Enhanced Recovery Lead, then Colorectal Cancer Lead from 2023, and Colorectal Virtual Ward Lead from 2024, Rana has used her combined leadership roles to redesign an entire patient pathway from end to end. The result is a model of care that begins long before a patient reaches the operating theatre and continues safely at home long after they leave it.

At its heart is a philosophy of optimisation. Patients now receive early fitness assessments to ensure they are as physically prepared for surgery as possible. In theatre, minimally invasive robotic techniques reduce trauma and support faster recovery. And after surgery, a virtual ward uses remote monitoring to keep patients safe and supported at home — reducing the need for prolonged hospital stays.

The outcomes speak for themselves. Cancer performance targets have improved.  Length of stay has reduced by 50%. Surgical site infections have fallen by 10%. Patients are recovering better, faster, and in the place they most want to be.

“Modernising our surgical pathways is about more than new technology,” Rana says. “It is about making sure the NHS remains at the forefront of safe, compassionate and patient-centred care. By blending robotic innovation with virtual recovery, we are improving outcomes while keeping the patient experience at the heart of everything we do.”

This is a shift from reactive surgery to proactive, personalised care — exactly the kind of transformation the 10 Year Health Plan envisions. For Rana, the goal has always been simple: “Better outcomes and a better experience for every patient.” At Ashford and St Peter’s, that ambition is already being delivered.