About Us
Here at Optimise Weight Loss we offer a range of specialist surgical and non-surgical procedures to patients throughout Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, London and surrounding counties.
We also see many international patients who take advantage of the great transport links to our various locations.
Our team of specialists offer first class, quality care to all our patients. Whether seeing us as a private or an NHS referred patient, you can rest assured you will always get the best care possible.
Our Surgeons
Consultant Surgeon
James Ramus
James is currently employed as a substantive consultant surgeon at the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Trust, Reading. He was appointed in May 2012 as member of the UGI surgical team to help develop the Bariatric Surgical Unit (Berkshire Weight Loss). He is a fully qualified General and Upper GI surgeon specialising in laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for gallbladders, gastro-oesophageal reflux, hernias and weight loss.
Consultant Surgeon
Marianne Sampson
Marianne has been a Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric surgeon since 2009, and practices at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust in Reading, as well as Spire Dunedin Hospital, Reading and the Berkshire Independent Hospital Reading. She specialises in laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for gallstone and gastrointestinal reflux (GERD) disease and hernias, as well as weight loss surgery. She also offers a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures.
Consultant Surgeon
Gregory Jones
Greg was appointed as Consultant General, Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon at The Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading in November 2015. His remit was to help develop the Bariatric (weight loss) surgery services into an International Level 1 Unit.
Consultant Surgeon
Mo Hamdan
Mohammed Hamdan has been employed as a substantive consultant surgeon at the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Trust, Reading since 2021. He also practices at Spire Dunedin Hospital-Reading, the Berkshire Independent Hospital-Reading and Circle Hospital-Reading. He specialises in laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for hernias, gallbladders, reflux disease and weight loss surgery. He also performs diagnostic and therapeutic upper GI endoscopy.
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Our Bariatric Team
Consultant Anaesthetist
Simon Coleman
After training in the Oxford and Wessex Deaneries, Simon was appointed as Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in February 2015. He is the Clinical Lead for Bariatric Anaesthesia and has worked closely with the Bariatric surgeons since his arrival to expand the service. The introduction of Robotic Weight Loss Surgery was a major development.
His interests include weight loss and antireflux surgery, managing patients with difficult airways and patients who are prone to anaesthesia-related nausea and vomiting.
Consultant Bariatric Anaesthetist
Farah Idrees
Farah has worked as a Consultant Anaesthetist since 1999. She was a Substantive Consultant at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for 15 years and for the last 5 years has been in full-time private practice at Spire Dunedin, Circle Hospital, the Berkshire Independent as well The London Clinic.
She has specialised in difficult airway management, ophthalmic anaesthesia, anaesthesia for spinal surgery and has many years of experience with bariatric patients. Farah also has an interest in pre-operative assessment and preventative medicine.
Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
Sandra Katswere
Sandra qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 2008, when she started working in General Theatres at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (NHS) as a Theatre Practitioner. She became the Bariatric Lead Practitioner by 2014, teaching the theatre team, including Junior Doctors, about bariatric practice. She completed the Surgical First Assistance course at University of West London.
She currently organises the Bariatric Clinical Pathway at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and is the main point of contact for patients following surgery, ensuring they gain the maximum benefit on their weight-loss journey.
Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
Kath Hallworth-Cook
Kath qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1996 and gained extensive experience working in a variety of acute medical and surgical specialities within the NHS, including 5 years as a ward Sister. She has worked as a Bariatric Specialist Nurse since 2009 and was involved in the setting up and development of the weight loss surgery service at the Royal Berkshire Hospital Reading, where she currently works as the senior Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Specialist Bariatric Dietician
Lisa Lovell
Lisa qualified as a Registered Dietitian from Leeds Metropolitan University in 1990. After a 1 year spell as a hospital dietitian in Bradford, she returned to Berkshire to work as a community dietitian. She has extensive experience of working in primary care, and in particular advising patients regarding weight management in both a one to one settings in GP practice as well as group programmes.
Bariatric Dietitian
Ann Grive
Anne completed a diploma course at the University of Lincoln in Chemistry and Biochemistry before studying Dietetics at Nottingham University and gaining a Masters of Nutrition degree in 2011.
She worked thereafter at the Royal Derby Hospital as a dietitian, where she gained a specialist interest in bariatrics. She has been employed at the Royal Berkshire Hospital since 2013 and is currently a Senior Specialist Bariatric Dietitian there.
Chartered Psychologist
Umbereen Siddiki
Umbereen is a qualified and experienced Chartered Psychologist and has been working in the field since 2004, in both the NHS and private sector. She is registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). She has also been awarded the Associate Fellowship (AFBPsS) by British Psychological Society (BPS).
She is currently working in NHS part time and has a private practice at the Spire Dunedin Hospital, Reading, Berkshire and Spire Thames Valley Hospital, Wexham, Buckinghamshire.
Optimise Weight Loss Administrator
Jan Marshall
Jan has been the administrator for Optimise Weight Loss and Thames Valley General Surgery since 2017, and is a key team member who coordinates the bariatric pathway. She is a central point of contact for the team and our patients. She will always be happy to take your call and to help make your experience smooth and personalised.