Our Consultants

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Mr Sam Dalal

Consultant Orthopaedic Hand and Wrist Surgeon
MBChB, MSc, FRCSEd (Tr & Orth)

  • I am on the specialist register as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and specialise in conditions of the hand and wrist.

    My main areas of clinical interest relate to conditions of the hand and wrist and include the treatment of arthritis, Dupuytren’s disease, nerve compression syndromes, sports injuries, fractures and soft tissue injuries.

    • Conditions treated:

    • Carpal tunnel syndrome

    • Cubital tunnel syndrome 

    • Hand arthritis

    • Hand and wrist ganglion

    • Dupuytren’s

    • Trigger fingers

    • Sports injuries

    • Tendon problems

    I qualified in medicine from the University of Sheffield in 1997. Specialist training in trauma and orthopaedic surgery was undertaken in the North West of England, leading to the fellowship in trauma and orthopaedic surgery in 2009. Specialist training was completed with hand and wrist fellowships at the Upper Limb Unit in Wrightington, the Pulvertaft Hand Centre in Derby and at the Hand and Upper Extremity Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA.

    I have an MSc in Medical Engineering, awarded from the University of Leeds in 2007. I was appointed as a Consultant Orthopaedic Hand and Wrist Surgeon at Sunderland Royal Hospital in 2012.

    Private practice at Spire Washington Hospital and Tyneside Surgical Services Team Valley for both insured and self-pay patients.

    Named Secretary: 
    Natalie Gartland
    natalie@orchid-medical.co.uk
    Tel: 0191 920 1010

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Mr Daniel Dowen

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
FRCS (Tr & Orth), MRCS, MBBS, BSc (Hons)

  • I specialise in hip and knee joint replacement surgery, and I have a special interest in complex and revision (re-do) surgery (where previous hip and knee replacement implants are causing pain for reasons such as (but not limited to) loosening, implants wearing out or infection). I also perform keyhole knee surgery, and in my NHS practice regularly perform general orthopaedic trauma surgery.

    Most of the elective conditions that I treat are painful hip and knee conditions including hip and knee arthritis, hip/groin/ gluteal or buttock pain, bursitis, degenerative joint conditions, musculoskeletal injuries around the hip and knee (including meniscal tears). I also see iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome and perform hip and knee joint injections. I investigate and treat a variety of tendonitis / tendinopathy conditions and sports injuries around the hip and knee).

    I see complex hip and knee pathology, including avascular necrosis of the hip (AVN), Perthes disease and I see and assess people with leg length discrepancies (often secondary to hip pathology).

    I was born and educated in Durham City before I completed my medical training at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 2005. My surgical training was also completed in the North East of England prior to undertaking a year long fellowship in lower limb joint replacement in Auckland, New Zealand. I also hold a higher degree in biomedical sciences from the university of Leeds, which I completed in 2000. This has given me a strong grounding in medical research, and to date, I am a named author on over 20 publications. This has helped to form the basis of my evidence-based practice.  I have a busy NHS practice at Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS trust where I am currently the clinical lead for the Trauma orthopedic department.

    I offer a patient-centered approach to shared decision making, and pride myself on openness and honesty throughout the patient journey.

    Please visit Mr. Dowen's website

    List of procedures:

    • Joint injections

    • Hip injections

    • Knee injections

    • Hip and knee arthroplasty

    • Hip and knee replacements

    • Total hip replacement

    • Total knee replacement

    • Complex primary hip replacement

    • Complex primary knee replacement

    • Revision hip surgery

    • Revision knee surgery

    • Knee arthroscopy

    • Keyhole knee surgery

    • Meniscal tear surgery

    • ITB syndrome management

    • Trochanteric bursitis management

    • Mechanical knee symptom management

    • Sports injury assessment / investigation 

    • Joint Injections

    • Hip & Knee Arthroplasty

    • Complex Hip & Knee Surgery

    • Meniscal Tears

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Mr Andrew Mishreki

Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon
MBChB, MRCS, ChM, FRCS

  • I am a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon, with an NHS practice at University Hospital North Durham, and private practice based at Spire Washington Hospital.

    In my NHS practice I sit as the Trust Cancer Lead for County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, whilst at Spire Washington I sit on the Medical Advisory Council.

    My practice encompasses the full remit of general surgery and colorectal surgery, all of which I perform with advanced laparoscopic (keyhole) and minimally invasive (including trans-anal) techniques, including: Hernia and gallbladder surgery, the investigation and treatment of colorectal and anorectal disorders, and all bowel related diseases, Colorectal cancer surgery and endoscopic procedures for the upper GI tract (OGD) and lower GI tract (colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy).

    Following qualification in medicine from The University of Birmingham, I carried out my basic surgical training in the West Midlands and the South West, before completing my higher surgical training in the North East of England. Alongside fellowship examinations (Royal College of Surgeons of England), I achieved a Master of Surgery degree with merit during this time. Towards the end of my training, I had the honour of being awarded the prestigious ACPGBI (Association of Coloproctologists of Great Britain and Ireland) travelling fellowship, gaining a unique experience in the world's largest Intestinal Failure unit (Nebraska, USA), treating the most complex of bowel conditions during this time.

    Following completion of my training, I undertook a year's fellowship in Auckland, New Zealand, focusing on advanced laparoscopic (keyhole), minimally invasive surgical techniques, and complex colorectal cancer surgery. I then took up my current post as Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at University Hospital of North Durham.

    I have published in many peer reviewed journals, and recently have been pivotal in the development of a new state of the art laparoscopic operating theatre that has opened at University Hospital North Durham.

    My varied and valuable experiences, highly specialised skill-set, and demanding NHS practice, enable me to provide the highest possible standard of care for my patients.

    Named Secretary: 
    Lynn Seymour
    lynn@orchid-medical.co.uk
    Tel: 0191 920 1011

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Mr Balaji Purushothaman

Consultant Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon
MBBS, MRCS (Ed), FRCS (T&O)

  • Mr Balaji Purushothaman is a highly experienced consultant spinal surgeon based in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK), specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of complex back and neck pain conditions. He offers both non-surgical and surgical treatments for spinal disorders, with a focus on personalised, patient-centred care.

    Mr Purushothaman completed his medical degree (MBBS) in India before moving to the North East of England in 2005 to pursue higher surgical training in Trauma and Orthopaedics. During his specialty training, he gained wide-ranging experience in orthopaedic trauma and subspecialties, ultimately focusing on spine surgery. He completed the prestigious AO Spine Fellowship in Brisbane, Australia, where he received advanced training in treating spinal conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spinal trauma, spinal infections, and spinal tumours.

    Mr Purushothaman offers comprehensive assessment and treatment for a wide range of spinal conditions, including:

    • Herniated discs

    • Sciatica

    • Spinal stenosis

    • Degenerative spine disease

    • Spinal fractures

    • Cervical radiculopathy (brachialgia)

    •  Lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)

    • Spinal deformity

    • Spondylolisthesis

    Treatments Offered:

    Mr Purushothaman provides expert care using both non-surgical and surgical techniques for spine-related issues

    Non-surgical Treatments

    • Physiotherapy for back and neck pain

    • Image-guided spinal injections/Nerve root blocks and facet joint injections

    Surgical Procedures

    • Lumbar discectomy

    • Lumbar decompression

    • Lumbar decompression and posterolateral fusion

    • Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)

    • Cervical spine surgery

    • Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)

    • Posterior cervical decompression (PCD)

    • Posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF)

    • Cervical disc replacement

    • Minimally invasive spinal procedures

    • Surgery for spinal trauma (fractures), tumours, and infections

    Named Secretary: 
    Lynn Seymour
    lynn@orchid-medical.co.uk
    Tel: 0191 920 1011

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Lynn for the past year as my private medical secretary. She is organised, reliable, and a great communicator who handles everything efficiently and with a positive attitude. She has been a real asset to my practice, and I’m happy to recommend her without hesitation.”

— MR BALAJI PURUSHOTHAMAN, CONSULTANT ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON