Video
Thyroidectomy: ask an expert - Online interview
A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure where part or all of the thyroid is removed. There...
Professional statement
Professor Neil Tolley is an internationally respected consultant ENT (head and neck) surgeon based in London. He has earned worldwide acclaim for his pioneering work with head & neck robotic surgery in the UK and was the first surgeon in the UK to use the Da Vinci Robot for head & neck cancer, obstructive sleep apnoea and thyroidectomy. Additionally, he was the first surgeon in the world to perform robotic parathyroid surgery. Professor Neil Tolley treats a wide range of ENT conditions and has a special interest in surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
Professor Tolley completed his initial medical training in Cardiff in 1982 and his MD in nasal physiology in 1988. He then went on to complete specialist training at the Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital amongst others. Professor Tolley has undertaken a number of international fellowships in San Diego, California, Cape Town and Perth and Sydney, Australia. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh appointed him a fellow in 1988 and the following year he was also appointed a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He was accredited as an ENT surgeon in 1992. In 1994, he joined St Mary’s and Ealing Hospitals as a consultant ENT surgeon and has since been appointed lead clinician of ENT, head and neck surgery, audiology and oral surgery.
In 2010, Professor Tolley made pioneering use of telerobotic equipment to perform surgery to remove an overactive parathyroid gland and its use in selected patients to avoid scarring and lenghty hospital stays is now widely practised. His work in the field has earned him international renown and as such he is regularly invited to contribute to training programmes and conferences. Professor Tolley has twice presented his work at the World Congress of Robotic Surgery held in Orlando in 2010 and in Miami in 2011. He also visited Hamburg to assist in the first robotic thyroidectomy in Germany in 2012. Additionally, he developed the first integrated simulation training programme for ENT healthcare providers in England, which has gone on to be shared and used in the US, Sweden, Australia and Egypt.
Professor Tolley imparts his knowledge in a number of educational roles for medical trainees. He is a programme and simulation course director for ENT training in North Thames and has supervised a number of MSc, MD and PhD students in his role as Professor at Imperial College, London. Additionally, Professor Tolley is a surgical tutor at St Mary’s Hospital. In addition, he is course organiser for the Imperial MSc in Surgical Innovation - ENT and runs a twice yearly DOHNS course. Professor Tolley has published in excess of 200 peer-reviewed publications. He is a regional adviser to the Royal College of Surgeons (England) for North Thames West. He is also secretary and president elect to YCOHNS (Young Consultants Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery). Professor Tolley is also chairman of the London Consultants’ Association and an executive board member of the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons.
Professor Tolley completed his initial medical training in Cardiff in 1982 and his MD in nasal physiology in 1988. He then went on to complete specialist training at the Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital amongst others. Professor Tolley has undertaken a number of international fellowships in San Diego, California, Cape Town and Perth and Sydney, Australia. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh appointed him a fellow in 1988 and the following year he was also appointed a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He was accredited as an ENT surgeon in 1992. In 1994, he joined St Mary’s and Ealing Hospitals as a consultant ENT surgeon and has since been appointed lead clinician of ENT, head and neck surgery, audiology and oral surgery.
In 2010, Professor Tolley made pioneering use of telerobotic equipment to perform surgery to remove an overactive parathyroid gland and its use in selected patients to avoid scarring and lenghty hospital stays is now widely practised. His work in the field has earned him international renown and as such he is regularly invited to contribute to training programmes and conferences. Professor Tolley has twice presented his work at the World Congress of Robotic Surgery held in Orlando in 2010 and in Miami in 2011. He also visited Hamburg to assist in the first robotic thyroidectomy in Germany in 2012. Additionally, he developed the first integrated simulation training programme for ENT healthcare providers in England, which has gone on to be shared and used in the US, Sweden, Australia and Egypt.
Professor Tolley imparts his knowledge in a number of educational roles for medical trainees. He is a programme and simulation course director for ENT training in North Thames and has supervised a number of MSc, MD and PhD students in his role as Professor at Imperial College, London. Additionally, Professor Tolley is a surgical tutor at St Mary’s Hospital. In addition, he is course organiser for the Imperial MSc in Surgical Innovation - ENT and runs a twice yearly DOHNS course. Professor Tolley has published in excess of 200 peer-reviewed publications. He is a regional adviser to the Royal College of Surgeons (England) for North Thames West. He is also secretary and president elect to YCOHNS (Young Consultants Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery). Professor Tolley is also chairman of the London Consultants’ Association and an executive board member of the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons.
Clinics
Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth
Central London, 60 Grove End Road, St John's Wood, NW8 9NHMedical insurances accepted
Credentials
Professional experience
- 44 years of experience
- Consultant ENT-Thyroid Surgeon, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, 1994
Subspecialties
- Thyroid surgery
- Parathyroid surgery
Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Education
- Accreditation Otolaryngology, Royal College Surgeons England (1992)
- FRCS Royal College Surgeons England (1989)
Teaching posts
- Professor at Imperial College, London
- Education Director for ENT training, North Thames
Positions in organisations
- Programme director for training in North Thames
- Regional adviser to the Royal College of Surgeons (England) for North Thames West
Publications and conferences
- Presented his work at both World Congresses of Robotic Surgery held in Orlando (2010) and Miami (2011)
- Developed the first integrated simulation training programme for ENT in England, presentations of this work has taken place in the US, Sweden, Australia and Egypt.
Languages spoken
- English
Registration number: 2590608
Content
Photos
Health content
Article
Thyroidectomy: A detailed guide on what to expect
Professor Neil Tolley gives an expert guide to thyroid surgery in this informative article...
Video
Thyroid parathyroid surgery explained
Professor Neil Tolley talks about thyroid and parathyroid surgery.
Article
Problems with the parotid gland, and how they are treated
Leading consultant ENT (head and neck) surgeon, Professor Neil Tolley, explains how to ide...
Video
Why have your thyroid parathyroid removed?
Why would you have your thyroid removed? Professor Tolley explains.
Article
Thyroid and parathyroid surgery explained
Professor Neil S Tolley explains everything you need to know about thyroid and parathyroid...
Video
Are there different techniques?
The different surgery techniques for thyroid and parathyroid surgery, explained by profess...
Article
Robot assisted surgery: how new technology creates opportunities in head and neck surgery
Professor Neil S Tolley explains the advantages and opportunities that arise with technolo...
Video
How would you advise a patient?
Professor Tolley gives advice on how to choose the best surgeon to perform your thyroid or...
Other information
Reviews
All reviews are from real patients and have been verified by our Customer Service department to ensure they meet our guidelines. Rules of the service
- Would you recommend this doctor?
- Treatment of the doctor
- Treatment of the staff
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- Condition of facilities
- Professor Tolley is the best!
- From my very first consultation, Professor Tolley quickly identified the issue and was reassuring throughout. He clearly explained the procedure and addressed all my concerns, both before and after surgery. I’m now in recovery and waiting to see how things progress. Thank you for your professionalism and care.
- Great experience thank you!
- Professor Tolley is a very proficient consultant, sympathetic and excellent at diagnosing ailments. I cannot recommend him highly enough!
- Professor Tolley is the perfect medical professional, second to none. He is sympathetic and extremely knowledgeable in his field.
- He listened well and was able to help with re occuring nose bleeding for my child.
- Professor Tolley is a kind consultant, since I have been referred by my Doctor from the wellington Hospital, it's very great and blessed to have him as ENT consultant. He make me being confident by his advices. My surgery went very well. Thank you Professor.