Surgical Services
Staff profiles
There are four breast surgeons in the unit who work closely with each other, committed to ensuring a very high standard of care. The four surgeons are Mr Richard D Bliss, Mr Clive D M Griffith, Mr Andrew B Griffiths and Professor Tom W J Lennard.
Mr Richard D Bliss
Richard Bliss is the lead surgeon for breast cancer in the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and was appointed as a consultant surgeon in 2000. He did most of his training in the North East apart from a year fellowship in Sydney, Australia at the end of his training. He sits on national bodies such as the Cancer Services Committee of the Royal College of Surgeons and is a member of Council of the Associations of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland.
Mr Clive D M Griffith
Clive Griffith trained in Nottingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh and was appointed as a consultant surgeon in 1988. He was one of the first surgeons to be actively involved in the NHS Breast Screening Programme when it was started. He is now the National Lead for Breast Cancer in the NHS Cancer Services Collaborative and leads service improvement for the unit. He has close links with the Department of Health and advises other breast units nationally on service improvements.
Mr Andrew B Griffiths
Andy Griffiths trained in Oxford and London, being appointed as consultant breast surgeon in 1995. He treats the largest number of breast cancer patients in the region and is actively involved in combining breast cancer surgery with plastic and reconstructive surgery (a relatively new surgical speciality of onco-plastic breast surgery). He works with the plastic and reconstructive surgeons to provide a unified treatment plan for patients undergoing complex cancer and reconstructive surgery.
Professor Tom W J Lennard
Tom Lennard is Professor of Breast and Endocrine Surgery at the University of Newcastle. He was appointed as a consultant surgeon in 1988 after completing his training in the North East. He is now Head of the University School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences. He is involved in many national bodies including the British Breast Group and helped produce the Association of Breast Surgeons Guidelines on the Management of Symptomatic Breast Cancer. He is also an associate member of the General Medical Council. His CV includes over 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles in publication. He has been on national steering committees for many breast cancer trials.
