Miss Richards graduated in Medicine from the University of Bristol in 1997 (MBChB). She gained her fellowship to the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2010 (FRCS). She has also completed a two-year Doctorate in Medicine (MD) and Specialist Higher Surgical Training in units throughout the South West and Cambridge.

Miss Richards has specialised specifically in laparoscopic (keyhole minimal access) abdominal surgery. She focuses predominantly on hernia surgery, offering all techniques, and gallstone/gallbladder treatments.

Her career in Bath started in 2013 when she was appointed as the first female Consultant General Surgeon. She has become nationally recognised for the development of Surgical Ambulatory Care - this streamlines patients to rapid day-case keyhole surgery where possible and this model is now replicated by other hospitals throughout the UK and abroad.

Sarah has a strong background in Medical Leadership. She has previously completed a Vanguard Fellowship for Emerging Leaders and has undertaken a year long Fellowship with the Health Foundation.

During her career Sarah has won a number of awards and has been published in medical peer reviewed journals. She has previously been awarded Surgical Trainer of the Year in the South West of England. Sarah is a National Clinical Lead at NHS England and a Specialty Advisor in Emergency General Surgery to the Royal College of Surgeons. She is Clinical Director for General Surgery at the Royal United Hospitals Bath

Sarah is married and has two children.

“I always put patients at the centre of everything I do professionally. I see it as my job to listen compassionately and establish an excellent doctor-patient relationship based on trust. Once this has been established we can discuss together what possible treatment options may be best.”

Clinical Interests

• Hernia- open and laparoscopic techniques. Abdominal wall such as nguinal, femoral, epigastric, paraumbilical,recurrent, incisional hernia
• Gallstones and biliary disease
• Lumps, bumps and cysts 
• Abdominal pain.

Sub Speciality

• General Surgery
• Minimal Access/Laparoscopic/Keyhole Surgery
• Hernia
• Gallstone/gallbladder/biliary disease

Professional Memberships

• Royal College of Surgeons of England

• Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland

• Association of Upper Gastro-Intestinal Surgeons

• British Hernia Society

• British Association of Ambulatory Emergency Care- Council Member