Mr Andrew Irwin

Practising at

Spire Harpenden Hospital

Treatment information

Some of the principal treatments carried out by Mr Andrew Irwin at Spire include:

Orthopaedics

• Knee arthroscopy surgery
• Shoulder arthroscopy
• Shoulder replacement surgery
• Rotator cuff repair
• Joint manipulation treatment
• Joint pain treatment (joint injections)

Professional profile

My undergraduate medical training was in South Africa followed by ten years of postgraduate orthopaedic training in Bristol, Scotland (Royal Hospitals, Aberdeen), The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore and the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire. I completed a trauma fellowship in Toronto, Canada prior to commencing my current post at West Herts NHS Trust in 1997.

My main clinical interests are in arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) of the upper limb joints. The most common conditions I treat include frozen shoulder, shoulder instability (dislocations), rotator cuff tears, impingement and acromio-clavicular joint arthritis/degeneration. I also perform joint replacement for shoulder and elbow arthritis including joint resurfacing and total joint replacement including both standard and reverse polarity arthroplasties.

Throughout my life I have loved playing and watching sport and I understand the frustrations felt by sports people when injury affects their ability to take part in their sport.

Another large part of my practice is advising patients as they get older with aching joints and may require joint replacement. Within my NHS role I am responsible for training higher surgical trainees and I am a member of the North West Thames Training Rotation Committee.

Clinical Interests

Private contact details

Qualification and professional memberships

Professional memberships

Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Member of British Orthopaedic Association
Member of British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS)

Current NHS posts

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Personal Profile

I am married with four children who take up most of my spare time.

I occasionally manage a round of golf and enjoy fishing, gardening, running, cycling and driving my 1964 Massey Ferguson tractor for relaxation.