Mr Rathnam Sundaram

Mr Sundaram was appointed as a Consultant Trauma, Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon in Gloucestershire in 2010 and has received world class extensive training and experience. He graduated from the University of Leeds Medical School and trained in the Liverpool Region, Nottingham and Exeter. 

He is the Spinal Lead for Gloucestershire Hospitals and works very closely with his other 25 Consultant Orthopaedic colleagues as well the neurology and oncology specialists in the NHS and private sector. He also maintains a close relationship with the GPs throughout Gloucestershire and the neighbouring counties, as well as other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths – he knows how working with a team best helps patients’ recovery. 

Experience

Mr Sundaram has more than 20 years of experience in spinal disorders. His practice consists of both emergency and elective spine conditions. The majority of the emergency work is for metastatic tumours, spinal fractures, spinal infections, cauda equina syndrome and progressive cord compression. The elective work is mainly for sciatica, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy. More details are on his website. Details of his practice data are also available on the national PHIN website. He is recognised by all health insurance providers.

Mr Sundaram undertakes more than 3,000 patient consultations per year, making him the most experienced spine surgeon in Gloucestershire as his NHS and private practice exposes him to the vast array of both elective and emergency spine pathology.

In 2015 he was appointed as the Spine Lead for Gloucestershire NHS Foundation Trust.  Since then, following the new guidelines there have been many positive steps forwards within the service development, such as 

• A reduction in the variation in spinal surgery
• Lowered length of stay postoperatively 
• Reduced spinal implant costs, saving £400000 year on year since 2015 for the NHS Trust
• A reduction in re-operation rates
• A reduction in unnecessary spinal injections

These achievements have led him to receive 3 Clinical Excellence Awards, as well as being shortlisted for the People’s Choice Award and Team of the Year Award, which he was delighted to be involved in. 

Quality Assurance

From November 2016, there has been a significant national change in the management of spinal disorders led by the Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) project, NICE and the British Association of Spine Surgeon (BASS). This has led to better management of patients and the reduction of spinal procedures which have limited clinical benefits. This is not rationing by the NHS or by private insurance companies, but has been implemented to reduce ineffective procedures and improve the quality of the interventions we are delivering to further improve patient care. 

Mr Sundaram keeps up to date with the latest evidence and follows the National Spinal GIRFT guidelines in providing best care for patients. He is a renowned surgeon with a low complication rate and excellent interventional outcomes. His outcome data is registered with the British Spinal Registry and shows excellent outcomes in the top 2.5% of surgeons nationally.

Mr Sundaram has received numerous testimonials from patients, which are posted on his website. He is also thankful for the number of positive reviews on the iWantGreatCare website the Vitality Doctify website. Mr Sundaram has also been awarded the ‘Certificate of Excellence’ from ‘iWantGreatCare’ in 2021 and 2022 for providing excellent care to his patients.

Mr Sundaram is affiliated with Top Doctors and is honoured to have practising privileges in the two large NHS hospitals in Gloucestershire and the peripheral hospitals in Cirencester and Tetbury. Due to the excellent care he delivers to his patients, since 2011 his practising privileges have been renewed year on year by the local private hospitals. Therefore he is able to keep his patients’ care local to Gloucestershire.

A Consultant for all patients

As Mr Sundaram has both an NHS and Private Practice, he is able to see all patients regardless of their financial situation. If patients see him privately and their insurance policy or funding has expired, they can easily transfer to the NHS under his care. He has developed an excellent reputation over the years among his colleagues and patients and is determined to give the best quality of care to them.