Mr John Knight

I am a consultant colorectal & general surgeon and was appointed to University Hospital Southampton (UHS) in 2008. I trained at Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital, qualifying in 1996. I am an experienced laparoscopic and robotic surgeon and the current Clinical Lead for Surgery at Southampton (2020-present). I specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of rectal & colon cancer, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumours. I am also experienced in the management and surgery of patients with all manner of colorectal conditions including bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticula disease and benign proctology conditions (including haemorrhoids, anal fissure and fistulae). I perform diagnostic colonoscopy. I also have a general surgical interest in hernias, in particular laparoscopic ‘key hole’ groin hernia surgery.  A major part of my practice is the management of patients with bowel cancer. At Southampton I have led the development of laparoscopic (key hole) & robotic colorectal cancer surgery, and the enhanced recovery programme for patient  aftercare. I was previously Lead of the Southampton Colorectal Cancer multidisciplinary team, and the Wessex Colorectal Cancer Lead (2017-20), working closely with commissioning teams and research groups to improve local colorectal cancer outcomes.   I am also a core member of the regional Wessex Neuroendocrine Tumour (NET) multidisciplinary team in Southampton which  is  a certified European Centre of Excellence. NETs are uncommon types of cancer that can arise in many parts of the body. I specialise in the surgical management of these cancers for Wessex, when they occur in the small intestine, appendix, rectum and large bowel.  Southampton is the regional teaching hospital and I have been closely involved in post graduate training. I was the Royal College of Surgeons Surgical Tutor at Southampton (2011-16); and the regional Training Director for the Wessex Core Surgery Programme (2018-21). I was also Lead for consultant appraisal in Surgery at Southampton (2010-20). I remain actively involved in audit and continue to support clinical research.  Outside of medicine I am married to my wife, who is a local GP. We live in the New Forest with our two children. I enjoy cycling, swimming & skiing. 

Laparoscopic surgery; Robotic surgery; Rectal cancer; Colon cancer; GI Neuroendocrine tumours; Colonoscopy; Haemorrhoids; Anal fissure; Anal fistula; Groin Hernia; Abdominal wall hernia; Laparoscopic groin hernia surgery