Mr Stephen Brearley
Consultant General and Vascular Surgeon
MA, MB MChir, FRCS
"The Spire London East Hospital has excellent facilities and consistently provides excellent care to my patients. The atmosphere is pleasant and supportive and it is a pleasure to work here."
Specialises in
- Hernia repair surgery
- Vascular surgery
- Laser treatment
- Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
I have been a consultant general and vascular surgeon since 1992 and maintain a broad-based practice in general and vascular surgery, at the Spire London East Hospital and at Whipps Cross University Hospital, my NHS base. This includes abdominal procedures such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hernia surgery and a substantial amount of vascular surgery for varicose veins, arterial blockages and aneurysms. I am a firm believer in outlining all reasonable treatment options to my patients and involving them in decision-making regarding their care. Surgery is not always the best option for patients who seek surgical advice and I recommend it only when it is clearly necessary or likely to be beneficial.
Surgical treatment, normally using a minimal access technique, is usually very beneficial for patients with varicose veins which are causing discomfort or inflammatory changes in the skin but the benefits are not clear-cut in those who have mild or minimal symptoms. I do not generally advise treatment for varicose veins which are purely of cosmetic concern. Most hernias do warrant surgery and I treat these by both laparoscopic (keyhole) and open methods. Gall stones do not warrant surgery if they are causing no symptoms but removal of the gall bladder with the stones which it contains is usually advisable if the stones have caused symptoms (biliary colic or cholecystitis). I do this by keyhole surgery. Arterial diseases can be treated medically, by minimal access surgery (interventional radiology) or by surgery. I employ all three approaches in treating my patients with arterial disease.
I carry out a wide range of operations, ranging from removal of skin lumps to grafting of aortic aneurysms. The need for major arterial operations arises infrequently. In a typical year, I do about 150 hernia operations, 90 varicose vein operations and 40 gall bladder operations.
I am a founder member of the Expert Witness Institute and regularly provide expert reports in connection with medical negligence litigation. This is not only fascinating work but also highly educational. I have no doubt that lessons I have learned from reporting on cases which have gone badly have made me a better and safer surgeon.
General Medical Council Number: C2383732
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Mr Stephen Brearley at Spire include:
Vascular surgery
- Varicose vein treatment
- Blood clot or thrombosis test
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- Thread vein treatment
General surgery
- Gallbladder / gallstone removal (cholecystectomy)
- Hernia surgery
- Ingrown toenail surgery
- Mole, cyst, wart and skin tag removal
Other treatments
- Minimal access surgery
- Vascular surgery
Get in touch
Important information about Covid-19 tests
Spire London East Hospital is only able to provide Covid-19 tests to patients undergoing surgery at our hospital. Covid-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Hernia repair surgery
Laparoscopic surgery
Minimal access surgery
Vascular medicine
Vascular surgery
Special Clinical Interests: Laser treatment (EVLT), Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), Aneurysms, Carotid artery disease and Laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Qualification and professional memberships
MB BChir / University of Cambridge / 1977
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
These degrees indicate satisfactory completion of basic medical training and entitle the holder to practice
Professional memberships
Association of Surgeons of Great Britiain and Ireland
The Vascular Society
Expert Witness Institute
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, England
Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
British Medical Association
Professional leadership
Conductor and Artistic Director, The Doctors' Orchestra
Current NHS posts
Consultant General and Vascular Surgeon, Bart's Health NHS Trust Whipps Cross University Hospital and the Royal London Hospital
Honorary Senioir Lecturer, Queen Mary (University of London)
Personal profile
I continue to enjoy every aspect of my surgical work. Music is my main non-surgical interest and occupation. I play the piano when I find time and, as a violinist, am a founder member of the European Doctors' Orchestra. In 2010 I founded The Doctors' Orchestra and have conducted it every year since in fund-raising concerts for Freedom from Torture at the Cadogan Hall.
Financial interests
Contact information
| Telephone | Spire London East Hospital 020 8709 7817 |
| sbrearley8@gmail.com | |
| Private secretary | Jade Bennett |
| Private secretary telephone | 02085356670 |
| Private secretary email | jade.bennett@nhs.net |