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Mr Douglas Whitelaw

Practising at

Spire Bushey Hospital
Mr Douglas Whitelaw

Mr Douglas Whitelaw

Consultant General, Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon

MBChB FRCS (General Surgery)

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I have been working as a Consultant General and Weight Loss Surgeon at The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital since 2004. My private practice at Spire Bushey Hospital reflects my NHS practice and includes all laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery) in weight loss and gallbladder surgery for gallstones and gallbladder disease (laparoscopic choleocystectomies).

My expertise are in two main specialties:
 
Weight loss surgery
In 2005 my colleague Mr Jain and I set up the surgical side of The Obesity Service at The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, the service has grown to become one of the largest in the UK and includes a multi disciplinary team of healthcare professionals. Surgery carried out by me, both in the NHS and private sector, include laparoscopic Roux-en-Y-bypass (gastric bypass), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic gastric revision surgery, gastric band insertion, gastric band adjustments and gastric balloon insertion.
 
Upper gastrointestinal surgery
My other specialist interest is upper gastrointestinal surgery focusing primarily on laparoscopic cholecystectomies (removal of the gallbladder for gallstones and gallbladder disease), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for removal of gallstones from the bile duct, either before or after removal of the gallbladder. I also perform ERCP for the insertion of stents (small straw like tubes to help the bile duct drain more easily) for jaundice and for bile duct exploration. I am a JAG accredited Train the Trainer in ERCP. Within this area of specialty I also manage patients with acute pancreatitis.
 
In April 2023 I became the lead Laparoscopic Robotic Surgeon for weight loss and gallbladder surgery at The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital training on the da Vinci Xi Robot through the intuitive worldwide training programme.

Throughout my career I have had regular weekly operating sessions both in the NHS and privately, as well as a weekly ERCP list. Below is an approximate number of the type of procedures I have carried since 2004:
  • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder for gallstones or gallbladder disease) in excess of 2,000
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in excess of 2,400
  • Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y-byass (gastric bypass) in excess of 1,500
  • Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in excess of 1,200
  • Gastric revision surgery - 150
  • Gastric balloon insertion - 300
  • Gastric band insertion - 150

I have a friendly compassionate approach and endeavor to put patients at their ease. I have a calm professional manner and will always take time to explain all aspects of any procedure to alleviate any anxieties. During the consultation I will encourage patients to ask any questions they have, no matter how small regarding any aspect of the surgical treatment pathway.

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Treatment information

Some of the principal treatments carried out by Mr Douglas Whitelaw at Spire include:

General surgery

Other treatments

  • Bile duct exploration
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for removal of gallstones from the bile duct pre or post Gallbladder removal
  • Gastric band adjustments
  • Gastric band revision surgery
  • Management of pancreatitis
  • Weight loss surgery
  • Weight loss revision surgery

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Additional information

Endoscopy
Gastrointestinal surgery
Laparoscopic surgery
Minimal access surgery
Obesity surgery
Pancreatic and biliary surgery
Weight loss surgery

Special clinical interests: General surgery, laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder removal, ERCP for gallstones & jaundice, insertion of bile duct stents, bile duct exploration, gallbladder disease, Upper GI endoscopy, weight loss surgery.

MBChB / Edinburgh / 1990
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

FRCS / United Kingdom / 2003
Intercollegiate General Surgery

JAG ERCP Trainer / Stoke University Hospital / 2013
Joint Advisory Group Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Accredited UGI and Bariatric Robotic Surgery / United Kingdom / 2023
Intuitive Worldwide Robotics Training on the da Vinci Xi Robot

Professional memberships

Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh

Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons (AUGIS)

British Obesity & Metabolic Society (BOMSS)

International Federation of Surgery for Obesity

Professional leadership

Gastrointestinal Lead for Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery including Laparoscopic Cholecysectomies (gallbladder removal) and Weight loss surgery (Gastric bypass & Sleeve gastrectomy)
Chairs The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital weekly video linked supra network multi-disciplinary meetings with the Royal Free & University College Hospitals

Consultant General Surgeon Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Luton & Dunstable University Hospital).

I live in Hertfordshire with my family and enjoy music, festivals, cycling and sailing.

Website http://www.dougwhitelaw.co.uk
Private secretary Karen King
Private secretary telephone 07850 890297
Private secretary email douglas.whitelaw@btinternet.com