Retirement of inspirational and internationally-renowned UHS surgeon Neil Pearce

The career of an inspirational and internationally-renowned UHS surgeon who revolutionised liver surgery and saved the lives of thousands of patients has been celebrated this week as he officially retired.    

Neil Pearce, 56, has left his role as associate medical director for patient safety at UHS, a position he took on after his surgical career was tragically cut short when he was diagnosed with a progressive form of multiple sclerosis. 

As a consultant surgeon specialising in pancreatic, liver and neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), he established a world-leading centre in Southampton which he led from 2005 to 2013 before he was forced to stop operating.

During this time he performed over 1000 major cancer operations, introducing new techniques and procedures along the way and developing a reputation for taking on cases others had determined were inoperable – saving the lives of many patients who otherwise had exhausted their options.

Mr Pearce pioneered keyhole surgery for liver cancer in the UK and has trained surgeons from almost every unit in the UK, as well as many abroad, and championed the multi-team approach to tackling advanced cancer using all the different methods of treatment available.

He also transformed the treatment of NETs in Southampton and across the country with the creation of a team of dedicated professionals covering all the specialist requirements of the management of NET patients. NETs are rare types of cancer which are usually found in the pancreas, bowel or lungs but can also develop in other parts of the body and arise from cells which form a link between the nervous system and the glands which produce hormones.

If detected early they can often be cured with surgery but, at present, most are diagnosed at a later stage when they have already spread to other parts of the body.

Alongside his clinical practice, Neil saw the need for a charity to offer support for patients on these complex journeys and help provide innovative cancer treatments many years sooner than the existing NHS mechanisms could allow.

This led to the creation of PLANETS Cancer Charity, which he founded in 2011 alongside consultant interventional radiologist Dr Brian Stedman and patients Layla Stephen and Jo Green.