Prof Najaf Siddiqi

About

Professor Najaf Siddiqi is a Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, UK, and a Visiting Professor at Bournemouth University. He combines extensive clinical experience with a strong commitment to research, surgical education and innovation in healthcare.

He specialises in minimally invasive colorectal and general surgery, performing laparoscopic and robotic surgery for both malignant and benign conditions, including bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and other colorectal conditions. His principal clinical interests are the surgical treatment of bowel cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, with a particular focus on advanced laparoscopic and robotic techniques.

Professor Siddiqi graduated in medicine in 2003 and undertook his initial postgraduate training in Yorkshire, UK. He subsequently completed his higher surgical specialty training (CCT) in the Wessex Deanery, rotating through specialist colorectal units in Basingstoke, Southampton and Portsmouth. He received subspecialist training in robotic colorectal surgery at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, and went on to complete a post-CCT fellowship in advanced colorectal robotic surgery at Portsmouth Hospitals University, UK.

Professor Siddiqi has an active research interest in colorectal cancer, surgical education, surgical technology and quality improvement. He was awarded a Doctor of Medicine (MD) research degree by the University of Portsmouth for his research entitled Testing the Utility of Biomarkers in Detecting Micrometastasis in Colorectal Cancer. He has authored more than 50 publications in medical journals and presented over 60 papers at national and international scientific meetings.

As Visiting Professor at Bournemouth University, Professor Siddiqi is particularly interested in the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance surgical practice, education and training. His research interests include exploring how emerging technologies may support surgical skills assessment, enhance training, improve the evaluation of surgical performance and contribute to the quality of patient care. He is interested in developing links between clinical practice, academic research and technological innovation to help shape the future of surgery.

Professor Siddiqi is actively involved in national and international surgical education. He has contributed to masterclasses in laparoscopic and robotic surgery and is a faculty member for courses organised by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) and the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI), supporting the development of both consultant surgeons and trainees.

He also serves as Clinical Lead for Audit and Quality Assurance in Surgery at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, contributing to the evaluation of surgical practice and the continuous improvement of clinical services.

Outside his professional commitments, Najaf enjoys badminton, table tennis and swimming. He particularly values spending time with his wife and two sons and going hiking together as a family.

Procedures & Treatments

• Appendicectomy
• Polypectomy
• Colonoscopy
• Gastroscopy (or gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Colorectal surgery
• Diagnostic endoscopy
• Haemorrhoid surgery
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease surgery
• Ileal pouch anal anastomosis
• Hernia repair (Open, Laparoscopic and Robotic)
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)
• Bowel Cancer
• Anal Fistula surgery