Background

Originating from Belfast in Northern Ireland, he has been a Consultant Urological Surgeon since 2001. He has developed a national and international reputation for his work and research in prostate disease and the management of kidney cancer. Having lead the development of minimal access (laparoscopic) surgery for kidney and prostate cancer in Scotland he regularly lectures at national and international conferences. He has also Chaired the British Association of Urological Surgeons Section of Oncology Executive Committee, championing the importance of the patient in shared decision making and promoting transparency in the audit of surgical outcomes. He is married to his very supportive wife Alison, they have two grown up children. In his spare time he enjoys field sports and watching rugby.

Training

He received his undergraduate medical training at Nottingham University, graduating with honours in 1989. Upon completion of his internship he taught anatomy in Nottingham before undertaking is basic surgical training in Nottingham and Derby hospitals. He completed his peri-Fellowship training in General Surgery at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infimary, in Scotland prior to undertaking his urological training on the East of Scotland Training Programme in Urology. During this period he spent time working in Edinburgh, Dundee and Dunfermline before being appointed as a Consultant Urological Surgeon at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

After leading the expansion of minimal access surgery for renal cancer in Edinburgh his interest in prostate diseases lead him to undertake Fellowship training in Miami, The Cleveland Clinic, and in the University Clinic in Leipzig where he learned skills that allowed him to introduce minimal access (laparoscopic) surgery for prostate cancer to Scotland. He remains the most experienced minimal access urological surgeon in Scotland with a practice in renal and prostate cancer that now includes the use of robot-assisted surgery. Having developed a reputation for delivering a high quality service he receives tertiary referrals from colleagues all over Scotland, and patients regularly seek referral to him because of his excellent reputation.

Clinical interests and areas of expertise

During his training in general and then urological surgery he developed his interest in minimal access surgery, initially in renal cancer and then led the introduction of minimal access surgery for prostate cancer to Scotland. He remains the most experienced minimal access urological surgeon in Scotland with a practice in renal and prostate cancer that now includes the use of robot-assisted surgery.

Research interests

As a trainee in Urological surgery, he set up and lead the first randomised trial of alpha-blockers in the management of acute urinary retention. This was followed by a global study, funded by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which he also led. Use of alpha-blockers prior to removal of a urinary catheter after an episode of urinary retention is now standard practice, and his initial paper reporting the study is standard teaching for all urological trainees in the UK.

This interest in prostate disease lead to a further collaboration with engineers at Heriot Watt University. Together they have pursued research into developing a mechanical means of palpating the prostate that allows detection of prostate cancer with a simple examination. A spin out company has been formed and the group expect that their device will be available for wider use within 3-5 years.

As an NHS Consultant he is amongst a small group who have also maintained an active academic interest. Since beginning his interest in research he has been involved in attracting almost £3M in research funding to the collaborative projects he is involved in.