Mr Richard Laing
Qualifications
BSC (MedSci), MBChB , PhD , FRCS
GMC number: 7017210
Practising since: 2008
Specialties
General Surgery
Consultation times
- Monday evening (alternate weeks)
- Overview
About
Mr Laing is a highly skilled Consultant General Surgeon specialising in open, laparoscopic, and robotic Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) surgery. His elective NHS practice focuses on the surgical treatment of cancers of the pancreas, bile duct, and gallbladder. He also undertakes emergency work, managing complex gallstone disease, trauma, and pancreatitis.
Mr Laing studied Medicine at the University of St Andrews and the University of Manchester, commencing his clinical training in the West Midlands in 2008. He completed a PhD at the Liver and Pancreas Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he was instrumental in setting up and delivering VITTAL, a Wellcome Trust–funded clinical trial. This landmark study helped change global practice in liver transplantation and was featured in the BBC documentary Surgeons: At the Edge of Life (Episode: The Pioneers).
His decision to specialise in elective HPB cancer surgery was driven by a passion for minimally invasive, or “keyhole”, techniques—an area he continues to promote and advance in his clinical work.
After being awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in July 2021, Mr Laing was appointed Consultant in HPB Surgery at University Hospital North Midlands NHS Trust in July 2022.
Special interests
- Simple and Complex Gallstone Disease
- Disorders of the gallbladder
- Bile duct disorders
- Post-cholecystectomy pain
- Pancreatitis
- Benign cystic lesions of the pancreas and liver
- Abdominal wall hernias
Other interests
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (key-hole gallbladder removal)
- Bile duct exploration for bile duct stones (key-hole combined with cholecystectomy)
- Bile duct resection (Extrahepatic)
- Laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repair (groin hernias)
- Laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair
- Laparoscopic and open umbilical hernia repair
- Laparoscopic de-roofing of liver cysts Laparoscopic splenectomy
- Excision of skin lesion
- Abdominal adhesion surgery
- Small bowel surgery
Personal interests
Mr Laing lives in Shropshire with his wife and
two children. In his spare time he enjoys hillwalking with his family and
cocker spaniel, cooking and watching his son and daughter play sport. He is
also a Rugby Referee for the North Midlands Society of Rugby Football Referees
Languages spoken
English
Treatments and tests offered by Mr Richard Laing at Nuffield Health
- Laparoscopic groin hernia repair
- Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair
- Hernia repair
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)
Locations Mr Richard Laing works with
Related experience
Research
Mr Laing has extensive research experience and completed his PhD in 2021. He has won several awards including the Andy Burroughs Award from the British Liver Transplant Group, The Medawar Medal for Clinical Research from the British Transplant Society and the Rising Star Award from the International Liver Transplant Society. He was appointed as a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow and was instrumental in setting up and delivering VITTAL, a Wellcome Trust Funded Clinical Trial which has helped change practice in Liver Transplantation worldwide. The results of this study were published in the Nature Journal - Nature Communications. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16251-3
He is involved with Collaborative National and International Studies in HPB and Upper GI Surgery and has been a key member of several Steering Groups. He has over 35 publications in high impact journals and has presented his research Nationally and Internationally.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=laing%20rw&sort=date&sort_order=desc
Memberships
- Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of UK and Ireland (AUGIS)
- Great Britain and Ireland HPB Association (GBIHPBA)
- British Medical Association (BMA)
- Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS Eng)
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Honorary Membership) (RCS Edin)
Other posts held
- Consultant Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) and General Surgeon at the University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
Declaration
Mr Richard Laing does not hold a share or financial interest in this hospital, another Nuffield Health hospital or the company.
Mr Richard Laing does not have a share or financial interest in equipment used at this hospital or another Nuffield Health hospital.
Mr Richard Laing does not hold any paid advisory role(s) at this hospital or on behalf of Nuffield Health.