About Tom Routledge

A leading thoracic surgeon specialising in minimally invasive and robotically assisted surgery. 

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Appointments

020 3457 6259

020 3457 6259

Mr Tom Routledge_Sept 25_07.jpg
Mr Tom Routledge_Sept 25_09.jpg

Background

Mr Routledge attended medical school at Cambridge University and Oxford University, where he was awarded scholarships in medical science. He completed his surgical training in Cambridge, London, and New York, including a senior fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, where he gained early experience in advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery.

Appointed as a Consultant in Thoracic Surgery at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in 2007, he is currently Chief of Thoracic Surgery there and serves as the Senior Thoracic Surgeon at London Bridge Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, where he co-leads the lung cancer multidisciplinary team.

He has been at the forefront of developing robotically assisted thoracic surgery in the UK and Europe, pioneering techniques that allow the majority of his patients to benefit from precise, minimally invasive procedures. He is recognised internationally as a key opinion leader, having trained many other senior surgeons and contributed to advancing robotic thoracic surgery across Europe.

Training

  • Medical education: Cambridge University (scholarships in medical science) and Oxford University
  • Surgical training: Cambridge, London, New York
  • Fellowship: Advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York
  • Robotic surgery training: Extensive experience with Intuitive Surgical and the Da Vinci robotic systems, including the Single Port (SP) platform, developing techniques unique in the UK and Europe
  • He continues to teach and mentor senior surgeons in robotic thoracic surgery across the UK and Europe 

Approach

Mr Routledge’s approach combines world-leading technical expertise with compassionate patient care. While surgical precision is central to his work, he prioritises:

  • Minimising patient discomfort and pain through robotically assisted minimally invasive surgery
  • Ensuring rapid and safe recovery, working alongside specialist physiotherapists and advanced nursing specialists, with access to intensive care support
  • Providing holistic support to patients and families, recognising the emotional and practical challenges surrounding major thoracic surgery
  • Delivering care in a multidisciplinary team setting, ensuring joined-up, coordinated treatment for patients – particularly those with cancer, and other complex care needs

Innovations such as the da Vinci SP (Single Port) robotic system allow complex thoracic procedures through a single 3cm incision, dramatically reducing post-operative discomfort and helping to reduce recovery times and getting patients back to day-to-day life as soon as possible.

Interests

  • Robotic and minimally invasive thoracic surgery, including advanced multiport and single-port techniques
  • Surgical treatment of chest and lung tumours, including tumours of the thymus and mediastinum
  • Multidisciplinary lung cancer treatment
  • Robotic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis and selective sympathetic procedures
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome and robotic first rib resection
  • Pneumothorax and chest wall repair, including novel rib fracture techniques
  • Robotic surgery for endometriosis in the chest
  • Medical research, teaching and technology development, including advanced energy devices and innovations in minimally invasive thoracic procedures
  • Mentoring and training of thoracic surgeons across the UK and Europe