Kidney cancer second opinions & tertiary referrals — London
A meaningful proportion of Mr Sri's kidney cancer practice involves patients told elsewhere that their tumour cannot be removed without losing the whole kidney. Many are found, on specialist review, to be candidates for nephron-sparing surgery. Consultations at HCA Princess Grace Hospital, Marylebone — minutes from Harley Street.
Self-referral and tertiary referrals accepted · International patients welcome · Same-week appointments · Imaging review possible before in-person consultation
(personal series)
(highest complexity)
radical nephrectomy
across series
to date
"You will need your whole kidney removed." Then, sometimes — you don't.
A second opinion before kidney surgery is not indecision. It is good judgment. Renal tumours are technically variable — what one team considers unsafe for nephron-sparing surgery, another may consider straightforward. The difference frequently comes down to surgeon volume, technique, and access to the retroperitoneal approach.
Mr Sri operates on tumours of the highest complexity category (RENAL score >10) as 48% of his practice — with a 0.3% rate of conversion to radical nephrectomy. Where it is technically possible to preserve the kidney, that is the priority — every single time.
This page describes how to access this practice in Central London for a second opinion or tertiary referral. The clinical detail of kidney cancer treatment is on the main kidney cancer page; the surgical procedure detail is on the London partial nephrectomy page.
Six common reasons patients ask for a specialist review
Mr Sri sees patients referred by other consultants, by GPs, and patients who have found this practice independently. All are equally welcome. The reasons people seek a London-based specialist opinion follow recognisable patterns.
Outcomes that justify the referral
A second opinion only matters if it leads to better care. The figures below represent Mr Sri's personal robotic partial nephrectomy series as of end 2025. Full data is available on the London partial nephrectomy page.
Retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy — Mr Sri's signature approach
Most robotic kidney surgery is performed transperitoneally — through the abdomen, with the bowel moved aside. Mr Sri operates retroperitoneally — directly through the back, without ever entering the peritoneal cavity. He introduced this approach to South West London and now performs it as his default technique.
For posterior tumours, hilar tumours, patients with previous abdominal surgery, and high-BMI patients, this approach offers technical and recovery advantages that are clinically significant — and it is what allows nephron-sparing surgery to be offered in cases where the transperitoneal approach would be unsafe.
Mr Sri has published extensively on this technique in peer-reviewed journals.
Where you'll be seen — HCA Princess Grace, Marylebone
Mr Sri's London consulting and surgical base is HCA Princess Grace Hospital — one of London's foremost private hospitals, with a dedicated robotic surgical theatre and an established international patient pathway. The hospital sits in the heart of London's medical district, minutes from Harley Street.
Marylebone, London W1G 7AF
Book directly via HCA
Same-week appointments are routinely available for both new patients and second-opinion referrals. International patients can request a pre-consultation imaging review via the private office before travel.
Book at HCA Princess Grace →How to get in touch
Patients and referring clinicians can reach the private office directly. No GP letter is required for a private consultation, although insurers typically require one to authorise treatment under your policy.
Going deeper
For full clinical and procedural information, the dedicated information pages are below.
Frequently asked questions
Logistics-focused questions for patients seeking a second opinion or tertiary referral. Clinical FAQs about kidney cancer itself are answered on the kidney cancer page.
Before agreeing to radical nephrectomy, a specialist second opinion at a high-volume nephron-sparing centre is strongly recommended. Many patients are found to be candidates for kidney-preserving surgery on review. The conversion rate from planned partial to radical nephrectomy in Mr Sri's series is 0.3% — meaning the kidney is preserved in virtually every case where partial surgery has been planned. Send your imaging report and clinical summary ahead via privateoffice@dsri.co.uk to enable an informed first consultation.
Yes — particularly for international patients and those travelling significant distances within the UK. CT or MRI imaging on disc, with the original radiology report, can be sent to the private office for review. This is a chargeable service and does not replace a full consultation, but it allows informed conversation about whether travel for in-person assessment is likely to lead to a different treatment plan.
HCA Princess Grace has an established international patient pathway: concierge service, interpreter support, proximity to West End hotels, and straightforward access from Heathrow (Elizabeth line direct to Bond Street, 6 minutes from the hospital) and St Pancras (direct from Eurostar). The hospital's international patient office handles travel-related logistics. From a clinical perspective, sending imaging ahead allows pre-consultation review and pre-planning of the treatment pathway, including the availability of pre-operative assessment and same-trip surgery where appropriate.
No — you can self-refer directly via Carebit, telephone, or email. Many patients self-refer for a second opinion having been seen elsewhere. However, most insurers require a GP referral letter to authorise treatment under your policy — check with your insurer. For self-pay patients, no GP letter is needed at any stage.
Yes. Mr Sri also consults and operates at Spire St Anthony's Hospital (Cheam, Surrey), Nuffield Health Parkside (Wimbledon), and Kingston Private Health (Kingston Hospital). For Central or North London, international patients, or those wanting the Marylebone/Harley Street setting, Princess Grace is typically the natural choice. For South West London or Surrey patients, the other locations are often more convenient. The same surgical standards apply across all sites.
All major UK private health insurers including Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, WPA, and Healix. International insurers and self-pay patients are also welcome at Princess Grace. The HCA international patient office can advise on pre-authorisation for international medical insurance.
Reconsidering kidney surgery? A specialist opinion is always worth having.
Same-week appointments at HCA Princess Grace, Marylebone. Self-referral, tertiary referrals, and international patients all welcome. Pre-consultation imaging review available for those travelling.