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Shoulder And Elbow Unit

Your centre of excellence for shoulder and elbow surgery in Bath.

Whether you’re an elite athlete facing a career-limiting injury or a patient experiencing increasing stiffness and pain, we’re experts at diagnosing and treating issues in the shoulder and elbow. If you require an operation on your shoulder or elbow, you’ll want to ensure the best treatment possible and a quick recovery.

By bringing together a team of specialists, including world-class surgeons, theatre staff and physiotherapists, we’re able to deliver an outstanding level of care before, during and after surgery.

You can choose to have your surgery carried out by some of the UK's leading experts.

Experience the benefits of a specialist practice

We’re committed to improving the lives of our patients through shorter waiting times, high-quality care and enhanced recovery.

Shorter waiting times

We understand that shoulder or elbow pain can prevent you from doing the activities you love and even affect your ability to live independently. That’s why we’re dedicated to reducing waiting times for diagnostics and treatment.

A specialist team

Any operation can be daunting, so it’s reassuring to know that you’ll be looked after by a team of shoulder and elbow experts. They work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients, who benefit from their extensive experience and the latest evidence-based techniques.

World-class facilities

With the latest technologies, including computer-navigated systems that assist surgeons with positioning implants, it’s no wonder that internationally recognised consultant surgeons choose to see and treat their patients here.

Enhanced recovery

Physiotherapy is an important part of your recovery after surgery. Our team of physiotherapists are adept at working with shoulder and elbow patients and will support you throughout your rehabilitation.

Are you experiencing shoulder or elbow pain?

Our expert team is here to support you through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

The shoulder is a highly mobile joint that is prone to wear and tear. Issues can include impingement, tears to the rotator cuff tendons, frozen shoulder, instability and the damage caused by arthritis.

Pain in the elbow can also be caused by arthritis, but it might be due to ligament injuries, pressure on the ulnar nerve or repetitive strain injuries, such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. That’s why it’s so important to speak to a specialist.

If the pain in your shoulder or elbow is affecting your day-to-day life, has lasted more than a month, wakes you up at night or you’ve noticed that it is getting worse, book a consultation with a specialist.

Some shoulder or elbow issues can improve with rest, physiotherapy or other non-surgical interventions. However, this isn’t always the case, and issues such as tendon tears, bone spurs or arthritis, may require surgical intervention.

When you book an appointment, you’ll be seen by one of our friendly consultants. They will want to discuss your symptoms, ask about any pain you’re experiencing and explore your previous medical history to get a clear understanding of your pain.

They will examine your shoulder or elbow and may ask you to move it into different positions (they may also want to move your shoulder or elbow around themselves). This will help them to see the range of motion you currently have and understand precisely where and when you experience pain and discomfort.

When you have a clearer understanding of what is causing your pain, you can start to move forward.

Following a physical examination and discussion of your medical history, your consultant may refer you for a diagnostic scan, such as an MRI, X-Ray or ultrasound. They might also want to send you for blood tests to check for inflammation. These tests are often carried out on the same day as your appointment.

You won’t have all the tests listed above, and the consultant may want you to have additional tests that aren’t listed here. These will be thoroughly explained to you beforehand so that you know how and why you’ve been referred.

It should be noted that your consultant may decide that you don’t require surgery. It may be that you would benefit from non-surgical interventions, such as physiotherapy.

If the consultant does recommend surgery, they will make sure you are fully informed about the procedure and will answer any questions you might have.

For complex shoulder surgery, a computer-navigated system helps the surgeon position the implant to improve the functional outcome for patients having shoulder replacement surgery.

These new levels of accuracy are achieved through the system allowing fine adjustments to get the most accurate result.


We are a specialist unit, which means we are dedicated to diagnosing and treating shoulder and elbow pain. Our team of experts are here to answer any questions you might have about your diagnosis, surgery or recovery.

What’s more, at Sulis Hospital, we understand that long waiting lists for surgery can affect your fitness, health and well-being. That’s why we’re committed to delivering timely appointments for investigation, diagnosis and surgery. Get in touch today to book your consultation.

If you do require surgery, we believe that you’ll find no better place to have it done than Sulis Hospital Bath.

At Sulis Hospital Bath, we like to do things differently. That’s why, unlike many other hospitals, you’ll benefit from:

  • receiving your treatment within two weeks of initial diagnosis: with no waiting lists, we can get you treated and back to good health quickly.
  • being treated in our specialist Shoulder and Elbow Unit: where every member of staff is an expert on shoulder and elbow surgery and can answer any questions you may have
  • our multidisciplinary team: we have built an incredibly strong and diverse team of like-minded medical experts who all work together every day to achieve the best possible result.
  • Being able to draw upon such a vast amount of shared experience means that you will always receive the very best treatment and care possible.

Our Specialists

Fast track your treatment

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