A consultant colorectal surgeon at Watford General Hospital has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
Mr Vanash Patel is shortlisted for the Clinical Leader of the Year award by the Health Service Journal having led the ambitious development of West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's robotics surgery programme over the last three years.
The West Herts robotics surgery programme is now widely regarded as one of the most advanced in the UK.
Earlier this year the Trust added its sixth robotic platform to its centre, with the DV5 robot, which is the most advanced robotic surgery technology ever used by the NHS.
Vanash has also been credited for developing new pathways and establishing extensive training programmes for both new and existing surgeons.
This is the second recognition that Vanash has been recognised with for his work in 2026. In March , Vanash was awarded the ‘Silver Scalpel Award’ by the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT), recognising his exceptional commitment to the training, mentorship and the development of the next generation of surgeons.
Commenting on the shortlisting, acting chief executive Paul Bannister, said: "We’re so pleased that Vanash has been recognised in this way, it’s very well deserved. We’re proud of him, and his team, for all their success in establishing West Herts as a centre of excellence in robotics surgery.
“Vanash is an innovator and someone who is always looking at ways of improving things for patients, and he cares deeply about helping them to recover as quickly as possible.
"He’s passionate about training and supporting colleagues to upskill, and works in a highly collaboratively way across teams to join up patient pathways. He is a truly inspirational colleague.”
Vanash will compete for the award at a ceremony in London in November.