Dr Alan Li

Dr. Alan Li was educated in Oxford and qualified as a doctor in 1990 after graduating from the University of Bristol Medical School. His early training took him to Manchester as a Lecturer and to Leeds as a Surgical Trainee and University Tutor in Surgery. He was a Research Fellow for the Medical Research Council and the Royal College of Surgeons.

After completing his training in Yorkshire and Scotland, Dr. Li obtained a travelling fellowship to the National Cancer Centre Hospital in Tokyo, Japan, where he honed his surgical techniques in gastric cancer surgery.

This was followed by a prestigious one-year position as the Senior Clinical Fellow at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, under the guidance of Professor David Gotley, Professor Mark Smithers, Dr. Ian Martin, and Dr. Andrew Barbour. During this time, he further developed his expertise in pioneering thoracoscopic and laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for oesophageal and gastric cancer, surgery for reflux, and hiatus hernia, among other conditions.

Upon his return to the UK in February 2007, Dr. Li accepted a Consultant Surgeon position at Whiston and St Helen’s NHS Trust, with a special focus on keyhole surgery techniques. Later that year, he joined the Manchester Royal Infirmary as an Upper Gastro-Intestinal, Bariatric, Laparoscopic, and General Surgeon, while maintaining an honorary contract in Merseyside.

Over the past 15 years, Dr. Li has risen to the position of Senior Lead in the Oesophago-Gastric (OG) Unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he has overseen a tenfold increase in OG cancer operations, established a full minimally invasive oesophago-gastric cancer surgery service, and contributed to the development of a comprehensive NHS bariatric service.

Currently, Dr. Li is a senior oesophago-gastric and bariatric surgeon at Salford Royal Hospital, with over 15 years of consultant experience. He is a leader in cancer, reflux, and bariatric surgery, including complex revision operations.

Dr. Li is also dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of surgeons and senior clinical fellows. He is continuing his robotic surgery training and believes in providing individualised and holistic patient care, bringing empathy, experience, and expertise to every case.

Our surgeons are not just experts; they are pioneers in their fields, handpicked for their exceptional skills and extensive experience. We never settle for less when it comes to your care. Every one of our surgeons is fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and holds a Licence to Practise, ensuring the highest standards. They continuously sharpen their expertise through annual appraisals and further training, with a commitment to excellence that is reaffirmed every five years through GMC revalidation. Their Practising Privileges are carefully vetted by our Clinical Governance and Compliance Committee, and they are backed by their own professional indemnity insurance.

For our surgeons and clinical teams, every procedure is a chance to make a positive impact. Even with thousands of successful surgeries under their belts, they approach each new patient with the same care and dedication, knowing that this might be your first step on this transformative journey. We’re here to make sure it’s an experience you’ll feel confident about from start to finish.