"The surgeon you'd like in your corner"

I have no hesitation in recommending Simon Monkhouse as the surgeon you would like in your corner in a tricky situation. My 84 year old mother, who suffers from angina, was found to have a huge hiatus hernia and her entire stomach had passed through her diaphragm into her chest cavity where it had twisted and was pressing on her lungs. She was referred to Simon and what a lucky day that was.

Simon explained every step of the surgery to us both (together with helpful diagrams), together with the attendant risks. He is hugely reassuring because of his quiet confidence, his willingness to listen and answer questions and his caring manner. This extended to him arranging for a member of the theatre staff to call me during the four hour operation to assure me that all was going to plan. After the operation, although he had been operating all day (and it was his birthday! ) he called me to let me know how my mother was faring.

Following the operation, he visited my mother every day she was in hospital (7 days) and always contacted me afterwards to let me know his findings and to ask me how I felt about her progress. He made himself available to be contacted at any time.

Four weeks on from the operation, he is still in contact to ensure my mother is making good progress which, I am happy to say, she is.

Simon is highly skilled and is professional in his approach yet has a very personable, caring manner.

I firmly believe that he saved my mother's life and I am most grateful to him. We could not have found a better doctor.

I found all the nurses at East Surrey to be attentive and caring. All of them took the time to listen to my mother and to care for her properly.