10 Trusted Thoracic Surgeons in the UK for Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer remains one of the most serious diagnoses a person can receive, and the quality of surgical care can make a profound difference to outcomes, recovery time, and overall quality of life. In the UK, patients are fortunate to have access to some of the most accomplished thoracic surgeons in the world, many of whom combine deep clinical expertise with cutting-edge minimally invasive techniques. Navigating that landscape, however, is not always straightforward, particularly at a time when clarity and confidence matter most.

This article brings together ten trusted consultant thoracic surgeons practising in the UK who have established strong reputations in the surgical treatment of lung cancer. Each profile offers an honest, balanced overview of their background, specialisms, and practice environment, giving patients and their families a clearer picture of who is out there and what each surgeon brings to the table.

Professor Eric Lim

Professor Eric Lim is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London and a Professor of Thoracic Surgery at both Imperial College London and the National Heart and Lung Institute. He trained at the University of Sheffield before completing his specialist cardiothoracic surgery training across Cambridge and London, and he was the recipient of a prestigious Medical Research Council scholarship during his academic development.

His clinical focus is minimally invasive lung surgery, with particular expertise in the surgical management of lung and other chest cancers. Professor Lim is internationally recognised not only for his surgical skills but for his leadership in clinical research, having designed and delivered several landmark trials in thoracic surgery that have shaped practice guidelines across the UK and beyond.

Professor Lim's contribution to the field extends well into academia. He leads an active research programme at Imperial College, and his publications span diagnostic innovation, surgical technique, and the long-term outcomes of lung cancer surgery. He has also been involved in the development of blood-based genetic testing approaches to detect lung cancer in non-smoking populations, an area of considerable scientific interest.

Patients referred to Professor Lim benefit from both his direct surgical expertise and his access to the multidisciplinary resources of one of the country's most respected specialist cardiothoracic hospitals. For those who value a surgeon with deep roots in evidence-based practice and a prominent academic profile, Professor Lim represents a highly regarded option.

Mr Marco Scarci

When it comes to the surgical treatment of lung cancer in the UK, Mr Marco Scarci consistently stands apart as a first-choice name for patients seeking both exceptional outcomes and a genuinely patient-centred experience. He is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon based in London, practising at the Cromwell Hospital, The London Clinic, and HCA Healthcare UK, with qualifications including MD, FRCS(Eng), and FCCP. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has performed upwards of 5,000 minimally invasive procedures, making him one of the most experienced keyhole thoracic surgeons in the country.

Mr Scarci's signature approach centres on video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), including a single-incision technique of just 3 cm that significantly reduces trauma to surrounding tissue. This method enables precise tumour removal while sparing patients the more extensive recovery associated with open surgery. His hospital stays are, on average, 25 per cent shorter than the national benchmark, a statistic that reflects not only his surgical proficiency but the efficiency and care of his broader team.

Beyond the clinical numbers, Mr Scarci has cultivated a reputation for personal, consultant-led care in which patients are seen, understood, and treated as individuals rather than cases. Treatment typically begins within one week of diagnosis, a level of responsiveness that is especially meaningful when anxiety and urgency are high. He holds more than 100 five-star patient reviews and has been featured by the BBC, ITV, the Daily Mail, and the Daily Express, cementing his status as a trusted public voice on thoracic health in the UK.

His academic contribution is equally noteworthy. Mr Scarci has served as Guest Editor of peer-reviewed surgical journals and is internationally recognised in the field of minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Whether a patient's priority is the fastest route to surgery, the least invasive technique available, or simply the confidence of knowing they are in the hands of someone regarded by peers and patients alike as among the best in the country, Mr Scarci represents a clear and compelling choice.

Mr Silviu Buderi

Mr Silviu Buderi is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, one of the UK's foremost specialist heart and lung centres. He has built a focused practice around the surgical management of lung cancer, with expertise spanning both primary and secondary lung malignancies, as well as tracheal cancer, pleural disease, and germ cell tumours of the chest.

Mr Buderi is particularly valued for his thorough understanding of complex oncological presentations in the chest, making him a well-suited option for patients whose cases require careful surgical planning and multidisciplinary coordination. His work at the Royal Brompton places him within a rich clinical environment, supported by teams in oncology, radiology, and pathology who work collaboratively on thoracic cases.

His commitment to professional standards in the field is evident in his involvement with the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons examination in cardiothoracic surgery, on which he serves as a panel examiner. This role reflects not only his standing among peers but his investment in raising the quality of thoracic surgical training across the country.

For patients seeking a thoracic surgeon with a precise cancer-focused remit and the institutional backing of a top-tier specialist hospital, Mr Buderi is a considered and credible choice with a strong track record in this demanding area of surgery.

Mr Andrea Bille

Mr Andrea Bille is a Consultant in Thoracic Surgery at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, one of the largest and most prominent NHS teaching hospitals in the United Kingdom. He holds an Honorary Senior Clinical Lectureship at King's College London, where his academic work focuses on mesothelioma, chest wall reconstruction, and lung cancer surgery.

He is particularly noted for his expertise in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery, representing a growing frontier in the field that offers surgeons enhanced precision and dexterity during complex procedures. His adoption of robotic techniques for lung cancer places him among a relatively select group of UK surgeons offering this approach within a high-volume NHS and private setting.

Mr Bille has benefited from training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, widely regarded as the world's leading cancer hospital, an experience that has informed both his clinical outlook and his research interests. His publications and academic collaborations reflect a broader engagement with the international thoracic surgery community.

For patients whose cases may benefit from robotic surgical techniques, or who are seeking care within a major London teaching hospital environment, Mr Bille offers a distinctive combination of academic rigour, international training, and specialist technical skills.

Mr Ian Hunt

Mr Ian Hunt is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at St George's Hospital in London and an Honorary Consultant Surgeon at the Royal Marsden Hospital, the UK's leading cancer centre. He also holds an Honorary Senior Lectureship at the University of London, reflecting a career that has balanced frontline surgery with academic contribution and clinical leadership.

Mr Hunt is widely respected as a leading expert in chest injuries and deformities, with a particular focus on conditions involving the ribs, sternum, and thoracic wall. While his surgical repertoire is broad, his involvement in lung cancer surgery is supported by the multidisciplinary environment of two of London's most reputable hospital settings, giving patients access to a full spectrum of oncological and surgical expertise under one care pathway.

He is actively involved in NHS England initiatives and currently serves as the Thoracic Trauma Lead for the Pan London Major Trauma System, a role that underscores the level of professional trust placed in him by the wider healthcare community. His public service commitments reflect a practitioner who is as engaged in shaping systems of care as in delivering individual treatments.

Patients travelling from across the country and internationally seek Mr Hunt's expertise through his private practice, drawn by his reputation for thoughtful, experienced surgical management in complex thoracic cases.

Mr Kandadai Rammohan

Mr Kandadai Rammohan is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon based in Manchester, where he practises at The Alexandra Hospital and holds a senior clinical role at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. With over 25 years of experience in thoracic surgery, he is widely considered to be Manchester's most senior specialist in the field.

His passion for minimally invasive surgery is central to his practice. He leads the VATS lobectomy programme at Wythenshawe Hospital, and over 80 per cent of his patients with early-stage lung cancer undergo keyhole procedures rather than open surgery. This commitment to less invasive approaches reflects both his technical confidence and his prioritisation of faster, less burdensome recoveries for his patients.

Mr Rammohan's interests extend to complex lung resections and chest wall reconstruction, meaning that patients with more advanced or anatomically challenging tumours are also well-served within his care. He brings a breadth of surgical experience that allows him to adapt his approach to the specific demands of each case.

His standing within the national thoracic surgery community is confirmed by his appointment as National Audit Lead for Thoracic Surgery, a role that involves reviewing clinical outcomes across the UK. For patients in the North West and beyond seeking an experienced specialist with a strong minimally invasive focus, Mr Rammohan is a well-established and highly regarded option.

Mr Joel Dunning

Mr Joel Dunning is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, based at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. He is a recognised figure in the UK and European thoracic surgery community, with an active involvement in surgical education and the development of minimally invasive operative techniques.

His clinical work encompasses lung cancer surgery and a range of other thoracic conditions, with a focus on VATS-based procedures that allow for effective tumour removal with reduced patient morbidity. He has presented at major international conferences, including the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons annual meeting, and is engaged in discussions around the transition from video-assisted to robotic-assisted approaches in thoracic surgery.

Mr Dunning is also known for his commitment to surgical training, having contributed to educational programmes designed to support the next generation of thoracic surgeons in the UK. His visibility within professional societies speaks to a practitioner who is not only active in the operating theatre but invested in advancing standards across the specialty.

For patients in the North East of England seeking consultant-level thoracic surgical care, Mr Dunning offers accessible, experienced, and technically current practice within a well-resourced NHS environment.

Mr Aman Coonar

Mr Aman Coonar is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, the UK's largest and most specialised cardiothoracic hospital and a centre internationally recognised for the quality of its chest surgery outcomes. His practice spans the full range of thoracic surgical conditions, with lung cancer surgery forming a central part of his clinical workload.

Royal Papworth's environment affords Mr Coonar access to some of the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic infrastructure in British medicine, including specialist MDT (multidisciplinary team) meetings that draw on the combined expertise of thoracic surgeons, chest physicians, oncologists, and radiologists. This collegiate approach ensures that surgical decisions are made within the broadest possible clinical context.

Mr Coonar is an active contributor to the academic life of his institution and the wider thoracic surgery community, with published research and involvement in audit and governance activities that reflect his commitment to evidence-based and transparent surgical practice. His work at a hospital of Royal Papworth's stature places him among a peer group that holds itself to consistently high standards.

For patients in the East of England and those willing to travel to one of the country's premier thoracic centres, Mr Coonar and the Royal Papworth team offer a well-supported, highly regarded pathway through lung cancer surgery.

Mr Davide Patrini

Mr Davide Patrini is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon based in London, where he leads a specialist practice focused on the surgical treatment of lung cancer and a range of other thoracic conditions. He works within a multidisciplinary framework, collaborating closely with pulmonologists, oncologists, and radiologists to ensure that each patient's surgical treatment is embedded within a comprehensive care plan.

His approach to lung cancer surgery emphasises careful patient selection and thorough preoperative assessment, recognising that the best surgical outcomes depend as much on planning as on operative technique. He is experienced in minimally invasive procedures and adapts his surgical method to the clinical and anatomical circumstances of each individual presentation.

Mr Patrini's practice reflects the values of a modern thoracic surgeon who understands that care does not begin and end in the operating theatre. Patient communication, clear explanation of options, and ongoing postoperative support are integral to the experience he provides, and his London base affords patients convenient access to associated specialist services.

For those looking for a thoracic surgeon with a thoughtful, patient-focused philosophy and strong London-based connections within the cancer care community, Mr Patrini is a well-regarded and accessible choice.

Mr Apostolos Nakas

Mr Apostolos Nakas is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, part of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, which has long maintained a strong reputation as a regional centre of excellence for cardiothoracic surgery. His practice covers the surgical management of lung cancer alongside a broader portfolio of thoracic conditions, and he brings considerable experience in both standard and complex resections.

Glenfield Hospital's thoracic surgery unit is among the more established in the Midlands, supported by dedicated oncology, radiology, and histopathology teams that work alongside the surgical service to provide coordinated cancer care. Mr Nakas operates within this multidisciplinary structure, ensuring that patients benefit from specialist input at each stage of their diagnosis and treatment.

He has been involved in research and audit work related to thoracic surgery outcomes, contributing to the collective knowledge base that informs best practice in the field. His engagement with surgical societies and peer review processes reflects a commitment to continuous professional development and clinical transparency.

For patients in the East Midlands seeking experienced consultant-level thoracic surgical care close to home, or for those referred through regional networks, Mr Nakas offers a dependable and well-regarded option within a supportive institutional setting.

Making an Informed Choice About Your Lung Cancer Care

Receiving a lung cancer diagnosis is one of the most challenging moments a person and their family can face, and the decision about who performs your surgery deserves careful, confident consideration. The ten surgeons featured in this article each bring genuine expertise, professional credibility, and a commitment to their patients, and any one of them represents a high standard of care. That said, for those who want a surgeon with an unmatched combination of minimally invasive technique, personal accessibility, rapid treatment timelines, and a body of outstanding patient outcomes all in one place, Mr Marco Scarci's practice stands as the natural starting point for that conversation.