Mr David Porter

Professional profile

I am currently a Consultant Neurosurgeon at the North Bristol NHS Trust Southmead and am Chief of Neurosurgery there. I have been a Consultant for more than ten years and was appointed Departmental Lead more than three years ago. I trained in London including the National Hospital for Neurosurgery at Queens Square, at Leeds and the famous North American Barrow Neurological Institute, based in Phoenix Arizona. I worked with the two international figures Dr Robert Spetzler on vascular tumours and Dr Viktor Sonntag, a world famous spinal surgeon.

I have carried out numerous procedures and I am currently compiling a report of the excellent outcomes attained. I have taken referrals to the Spire Bristol Hospital from the local population but also nationally and internationally. I undertake cervical arthroplasty and now have performed more than 50 cervical arthroplasty procedures at the Spire Bristol Hospital without complications. I also undertaken cervical spine fusion and have an interest in neck pain.

I treat low back pain, lumbar disc disease including lumbar microdiscectomy and minimally invasive procedures. All the techniques required for successful intracranial surgery are transferred to spinal procedures. I also undertake treatment of hydrocephalus including Chiari malformation.

An independent audit of practice is held here at the Spire Bristol Hospital and in the last five years, I have had no unplanned returns to theatre, no infections, and have achieved a high and consistent patient satisfaction score.

I take regular referrals from other consultants including neurosurgeons and have operated on cases that other surgeons have stated to be too difficult. I was the surgeon who successfully removed an arterial venous malformation as depicted in the recent television program. I am also featured in the Daily Mail and have been on several television programs.

General Medical Council Number: C3203088