Improving results of hemifacial spasm surgery with neurophysiological techniques.

Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Bristol
Locum Consultant Neurosurgery, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol

Fellow of Royal College of Physicians (London)
Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons (England)

I trained at UCH, London and trained in neurosurgery at the Guys-Maudsley-Kings Unit, London and was a fellow at Massachucetts General Hospital, Harvard University, USA. I was appointed consultant at Frenchay Hospital. Earlier in my career I carried out research that led to better diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours, which resulted in
lecturing internationally.

I developed an early interest in surgery of the skull base and cranial nerves and in the UK pioneered trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. For my work I was awarded a Hunterian Professorship by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. My work in skull base surgery was published and I lectured internationally on this subject.

I was one of the first British neurosurgeons performing lumbar microdisectomy.

I hold weekly clinics at Spire Bristol Hospital and offer surgical treatment for brain tumours, spinal tumours and the majority of spinal conditions. My results in treating trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and acoustic neuromas have led to national and international referral of patients.

Other sub-specialties include;

Skull base surgery - tumours and vesticular scharannomas.
Spinal micro surgery - cervical and lumbar.
Lumbar spine disorders, microdisectomy, decompression, spinal tumours. Interespinous, X stop.

I took up jazz saxophone many years ago and was in a band at university. I played in the international neurosurgeons' band called the 'Skull Base All-Stars', at venues including London, Amsterdam, Berlin New Orleans, Acapulco and Tokyo. I still play in Bristol group 'Dr Jazz' which was originally founded by Professor Paul Goddard to raise money for Bristol's first MRI scanner. A total of £1.5m was raised by which Paul and I were awarded 'Hearts of Gold' on the BBC TV Esther Rantzen programme. My TV career continued resulting in a BBC documentary 'Magnetic Appeal', 'Under the Knife' on Channel 4 and a BBC six part series on the neurosurgical department at Frenchay called the 'Brain Doctors'.