Dr Sanjeev Nayak
Consultant Neuroradiologist at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Dr Sanjeev Nayak is a Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist at the University Hospitals of North Midlands, who is one of the first and forefront pioneers of Mechanical Thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke in the United Kingdom.

Dr Nayak earned his Membership of Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) and Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) after graduating from India. He undertook further higher dual certification in Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology in Europe under the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and completed an additional fellowship in Stroke Intervention from Austria. He brought back the skills he acquired in Europe and helped set up the first UK 24/7 Mechanical Thrombectomy service at the Royal Stoke University Hospital,  Stoke-on-Trent which became one of the leading centres for minimally invasive stroke thrombectomy in the United Kingdom.

The mechanical thrombectomy service for stroke developed by Dr Nayak in the UK has saved the lives of many patients who would have otherwise died or sustained permanent neurological deficits. In addition to the lives saved, this service has resulted in cost savings to the NHS that runs into millions of pounds, by preventing or minimising stroke disabilities.

Dr Nayak has authored national QIPP and Thrombectomy documents with NICE and other UK national authorities. He has a passion for clinical research and has also been involved in numerous thrombectomy device developments. This has led him to win the prestigious The Sun Newspapers “Who Cares Wins” award for “Ground-breaking Pioneer and Discovery” following a nomination made by one of his patients.

Dr Nayak has been recognized by his peers and his patients for his outstanding achievement in establishing the service which has expanded under his leadership to cover a wide region including Midlands, Shropshire, Cheshire and Wolverhampton. Having been nominated for 19 national awards in various categories of BMJ and HSJ awards (2012-2019), he also won the prestigious “Windrush70 Award for Clinical Excellence” in 2018 following which he was invited to 10, Downing Street, to meet the Prime Minister.  Dr Nayak was hailed by the NHS in 2018 as one of “health and care’s top 70 stars” (voted no 2 in the entire NHS) for his efforts to get Mechanical Thrombectomy in stroke widely adopted.

Dr Nayak has also founded various national training courses and is strongly involved in medical education. He has developed courses through numerous new innovative teaching modules and has a strong belief for evidence-based practice with a motto of “saving lives through excellence” and “achieving excellence through education”.