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Professor Neil TolleyOtolaryngology ENT in Central London
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Professor Neil Tolley

Otolaryngology ENT in Central London

MB BCh MD FRCS DLO RCS ECFMG
GMC: 2590608

4.9200reviewsReview

Expert in:
Thyroid gland surgery
Parathyroid gland surgery
Robotic surgery
Salivary gland surgery
Parotid gland surgery
Thyroid disorders
  • Information
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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.

Clinics

  • Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth profile image

    Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth

    Central London, 60 Grove End Road, St John's Wood, NW8 9NH

    Medical insurances accepted

    Bupa
    AXA
    AVIVA
    Cigna
    WPA
    Simply Health
    I'm paying for myself
    Allianz

Credentials

Professional experience

  • 44 years of experience
  • Consultant ENT-Thyroid Surgeon, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, 1994
  • Consultant Endocrine Surgeon – North West London NHS Trust
  • Honorary Senior Lecturer – Imperial College, London
  • Program Director ENT – North West Thames
  • ENT Lead – North Thames Specialist Registrar Training
  • Program Director – North Thames ENT Simulation Programme
  • Surgical Tutor – St Mary’s Hospital
  • Regional Adviser Royal College of Surgeons England – North Thames Wes
  • Chairman – London Consultants’ Association
View more

Subspecialties

  • Thyroid surgery
  • Parathyroid surgery
  • Robotic assisted head and neck surgery - thyroid, parathyroid, OSA, cancer
  • Head and neck surgery
  • Parotid surgery
  • Salivary gland surgery
View more

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
  • Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
  • Member of the executive committee of the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons
View more

Education

  • Accreditation Otolaryngology, Royal College Surgeons England (1992)
  • FRCS Royal College Surgeons England (1989)
  • MD University of Wales (1988)
  • FRCS Royal College Surgeons Edinburgh (1988)
  • DLO RCS Royal College Surgeons England (1987)
  • ECFMG, Educational Commission Foreign Medical Graduates (1984)
  • MB, BCh, The Welsh National School of Medicine, Cardiff (1982)
View more

Teaching posts

  • Professor at Imperial College, London
  • Education Director for ENT training, North Thames
  • Surgical Tutor, St Mary’s
  • Simulation course director for ENT, St Mary’s
  • Has taught Imperial medical students for 22 years
  • MSc, MD, and PhD Students supervised
View more

Positions in organisations

  • Programme director for training in North Thames
  • Regional adviser to the Royal College of Surgeons (England) for North Thames West
  • Secretary and president elect to YCOHNS (Young Consultants Otolaryngology-Head & Neck surgery)
  • A charter member of the Society of Robotic Surgeons
  • British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons
  • Secretary (2000,2001) and President (2002) of the Young Consultants in Otolaryngology
View more

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.
  • Visited Hamburg to help perform the first robotic thyroidectomy in Germany (2012)
View more

Languages spoken

  • English
Registration number: 2590608

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

200 reviews

4.9

Review this doctor
  • Would you recommend this doctor?
  • Treatment of the doctor
  • Treatment of the staff
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  • Professor Tolley is the best!
    22 April 2026

    A.P.

    Verified patient
  • 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.
    2 April 2026

    C.B.

    Verified patient
  • Great experience thank you!
    2 April 2026

    F.A.

    Verified patient
  • Professor Tolley is a very proficient consultant, sympathetic and excellent at diagnosing ailments. I cannot recommend him highly enough!
    2 April 2026

    J.B.

    Verified patient
  • Professor Tolley is the perfect medical professional, second to none. He is sympathetic and extremely knowledgeable in his field.
    23 March 2026

    J.B.

    Verified patient
  • He listened well and was able to help with re occuring nose bleeding for my child.
    18 March 2026

    M.A.

    Verified patient
  • 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.
    17 March 2026

    A.G.

    Verified patient
  • 10 March 2026

    A.E.

    Verified patient
  • 5 March 2026

    E.G.

    Verified patient
  • 24 February 2026

    A.G.

    Verified patient
View all reviews

Treatments

The doctor is expert in

Parathyroid gland surgery

Parotid gland surgery

Robotic surgery

Salivary gland surgery

Thyroid disorders

Thyroid gland surgery

The doctor also specialises in:

Endoscopic sinus surgery

Parathyroid gland

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Professor Neil Tolley's specialty?

Professor Neil Tolley is a consultant specialising in Otolaryngology ENT, with extensive experience in assessing and treating patients within this field.

Which conditions and treatments does Professor Neil Tolley specialise in?

Professor Neil Tolley is a eNT Specialist who provides assessment and treatment for Parotid gland surgery, Thyroid disorders, Parathyroid gland surgery, Robotic surgery, Thyroid gland surgery and Salivary gland surgery. During your consultation, you will be informed of the most suitable options following a personalised evaluation.

How many years of experience does Professor Neil Tolley have?

Professor Neil Tolley has 44 years of professional experience as a consultant eNT Specialist, providing specialist assessment and treatment in this medical field.

What do patients say about Professor Neil Tolley?

Patients give a rating of 4.9 out of 5 to Professor Neil Tolley, a score considered excellent. This average is based on 200 verified patient reviews, reflecting the experience of those who have attended an appointment.

Are Professor Neil Tolley's reviews verified?

Yes. All Professor Neil Tolley's reviews come from verified patients who have attended either an in-person or an e-Consultation appointment. We use a system that ensures authenticity and prevents fake reviews. Some profiles may also display reviews from other platforms, which follow their own verification policies, with the source always clearly indicated.

Where does Professor Neil Tolley practise?

Professor Neil Tolley practises in Central London at 60 Grove End Road, St John's Wood, offering in-person care and access to services as a eNT Specialist.

How can I book an appointment with Professor Neil Tolley?

You can book an appointment with Professor Neil Tolley directly from this page by selecting the time that suits you best. Alternatively, you can call the phone number shown if you prefer personalised assistance.

Does Professor Neil Tolley see NHS patients?

Many specialists featured on Top Doctors also hold NHS positions. However, appointments arranged for Professor Neil Tolley through this platform are private, either self-pay or covered by private medical insurance.

Does Professor Neil Tolley offer private appointments?

Yes, Professor Neil Tolley offers private appointments for patients seeking flexible and direct access to a consultant eNT Specialist.

Does Professor Neil Tolley offer online consultations?

At the moment, Professor Neil Tolley does not offer online consultations. You can book an in-person appointment from this page or call +44 02038840513. When calling, please mention that you are a Top Doctors patient.

Does Professor Neil Tolley accept insurance?

Professor Neil Tolley works with the following private medical insurance providers: Bupa, AXA, AVIVA, Cigna, WPA, Simply Health, Allianz, CS Healthcare, Vitality and The Exeter Friendly. If your insurer is not listed, you may contact the practice directly to confirm your coverage.

What is Professor Neil Tolley's availability?

Professor Neil Tolley's availability depends on the appointment slots open at any given time. On this page, you can check current availability, and if no slots are shown, you can request an appointment or contact the practice directly.

What payment methods does Professor Neil Tolley offer?

You can pay for your consultation with Professor Neil Tolley using the following methods: Self-paying.

What languages does Professor Neil Tolley speak?

Professor Neil Tolley is a eNT Specialist who offers consultations in English.

How is Professor Neil Tolley selected to appear on this platform?

All doctors listed on Top Doctors, including Professor Neil Tolley, undergo our rigorous selection process. Only one in five specialists meets the required standards to be included.
Discover Top Doctors' rigorous medical selection process.
The doctor, or where applicable the hospital or medical centre in which the doctor provides services, undertakes to keep the information relating to the prices of services published on their profile on the Top Doctors platform up to date at all times, ensuring that such prices correspond to those effectively charged to patients. In the event of any discrepancy between the published price and the price ultimately charged to the patient, the doctor and/or the relevant hospital or medical centre shall be solely liable towards the patient and towards Top Doctors for any claim or financial difference arising therefrom.

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Hospital of St John and St ElizabethCentral London, 60 Grove End Road, St John's Wood, NW8 9NH
Payment methodSelf-paying
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