Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Clinical Director

Mr Paolo Sorelli is a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon based in South East London, seeing patients at Circle Health Group. He specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of bowel conditions, including colorectal cancer, using keyhole (minimally invasive) techniques wherever possible, and a wide range of anorectal conditions.

Alongside his private practice, Mr Sorelli serves as Clinical Director for Surgery at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, a position he has held since 2018. He sees both self-pay and insured patients in his private practice.

Why choose Mr Sorelli?

Mr Sorelli combines two areas of particular expertise: advanced keyhole colorectal surgery and the management of complex anorectal conditions. Many patients with anorectal problems, such as haemorrhoids, fistulas, or fissures, find symptoms embarrassing or difficult to discuss. Mr Sorelli has extensive experience in this area and creates an environment where patients feel at ease.

He is also one of the most experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeons in South East London, performing 97% of colorectal cancer operations using keyhole techniques.

What to expect from a consultation

Mr Sorelli understands that bowel and anorectal symptoms can be worrying and often difficult to talk about. He takes time to listen, explains things clearly without jargon, and ensures every patient feels fully informed before any decisions are made.

Where surgery is needed, he builds a bespoke treatment plan around each individual, focusing on the safest and least invasive approach to achieve the best possible outcome.

Special interests

Mr Sorelli has extensive expertise across both colorectal cancer surgery and the full spectrum of anorectal conditions, including:

• Haemorrhoids (piles)
• Anal fistula and complex fistula-in-ano
• Anal fissure
• Pilonidal sinus disease
• Anorectal abscess
• Rectal prolapse
• Colon and rectal cancer surgery
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
• Diverticular disease
• Complex abdominal wall hernia repair

Multidisciplinary care

Mr Sorelli works closely with gastroenterologists, oncologists, radiologists, and specialist nursing teams to ensure patients receive joined-up expert care. He sits on the Inflammatory Bowel Disease multidisciplinary team at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, as  well as the colorectal cancer multidisciplinary meeting, ensuring complex cases are reviewed collaboratively before treatment decisions are made.

Recovery

Mr Sorelli has a strong personal commitment to helping patients recover as quickly and comfortably as possible. He pioneered an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programme at his NHS Trust that reduced the average hospital stay following colorectal surgery from seven days to three, well below the national average.

For anorectal procedures, many of which are performed as day cases, patients can expect clear pre- and post-operative guidance and continuity of care throughout their recovery.

Training and experience

Mr Sorelli trained in London and was appointed to the South East Thames Higher Surgical Training Programme in 2007. He was awarded the competitive Ethicon Laparoscopic Colorectal Fellowship at St Mark’s Hospital, Harrow, one of the world’s leading centres for bowel and anorectal disease, providing intensive training in advanced keyhole colorectal and proctological surgery.

He subsequently completed a post-Certificate of Completion of Training Colorectal Fellowship at St Mark’s, gaining specialist expertise in complex rectal cancer, pelvic surgery, intestinal failure, and advanced proctology.

Mr Sorelli is JAG-accredited in lower gastrointestinal endoscopy and is an active surgical educator, mentoring junior surgeons and consultant colleagues in laparoscopic techniques.

Reputation

Mr Sorelli has published research in peer-reviewed international journals and presented at national and international surgical meetings. His NHS practice is widely respected in South East London, and he has served as his Trust’s South East London Accountable Cancer Network lead for colorectal cancer, keyhole surgery and rapid access diagnostics since 2015.

Outside of work

Mr Sorelli is passionate about music and plays the tenor saxophone. He keeps active through tennis, running, skiing, and personal training. He is fluent in Italian and conversant in French, and has volunteered with Operation Hernia, a humanitarian mission providing surgical care in low-income countries.

Clinical Interests 

Anorectal Conditions
• Haemorrhoids (piles)
• Anal fistula and complex fistula-in-ano
• Anal fissure
• Pilonidal sinus disease
• Anorectal abscess
• Rectal prolapse

Colorectal Cancer
• Colon cancer surgery
• Rectal cancer surgery

Keyhole (Laparoscopic) Surgery
• Laparoscopic colectomy
• Laparoscopic rectal surgery

Benign Colorectal Conditions
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
• Diverticular disease

Endoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy