Mr James Wheeler

Qualifications

MB BCh, MD, FRCS, FRCS (Gen Surg)

GMC number: 3615113

Practising since: 1992

Specialties

General Surgery

Consultation times

  • Weekly Wednesday AM/PM
  • Other times are available via secretary
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01223 370922

About

James Wheeler graduated from the University of Wales College of Medicine in Cardiff in 1992. He completed his early years of surgical training in Cardiff, Newport and East Glamorgan before completing specialist surgical training in Colorectal and General Surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. During his time at Oxford, he spent two years in full-time research and studied colorectal cancer genetics at the Institute of Molecular Medicine. This led to the award of his MD for work entitled “Epigenetics, mismatch repair genes and colorectal cancer”. The Royal College of Surgeons of England has previously recognised this research with the award of the title of Hunterian Professor. He continues to have several research interests as an NHS Consultant and has published over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters. 

Mr Wheeler was appointed to his current post as Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust in 2013. He is Chair of Surgery Board and is Divisional Director for General Surgery and Gastroenterology including endoscopy, T&O and Rheumatology, Critical care, Anaesthesia and Theatres. He had previously worked as a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at Cheltenham General Hospital having been appointed in 2003, and with colleagues, established a highly regarded specialist colorectal practice in Gloucestershire.

Special interests

  • Surgical management of colon and rectal cancer
  • Emergency general surgery including trauma
  • Laparoscopic (keyhole) colorectal surgery
  • Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohns, colitis and ileoanal pouch surgery
  • Diverticular disease
  • Anorectal conditions including haemorrhoids, fistula, and fissure
  • All hernias including abdominal wall reconstruction
  • Colonoscopy – Accredited UK Bowel Cancer Screening Programme colonoscopist
  • Transanal Endomicrosurgery (TEMS)
  •  Surgical Training and Education

Medicolegal training and experience

Cardiff University Bond Solon Civil Expert Witness Certificate 2017. Mr Wheeler prepares approximately 30 to 40 reports per year, mainly for claimants.


Other interests

Mr Wheeler has extensive experience with TEMS (transanal endoscopic microsurgery), a minimally invasive technique for treating rectal polyps and early rectal cancer, often avoiding more major surgery. He keeps abreast of all the latest developments in colorectal surgery and was the first surgeon in Gloucestershire to perform extralevator abdomino-perineal excision of the rectum (ELAPE), a procedure designed to improve outcomes for patients with locally advanced low rectal cancer. He has also been an innovator in sphincter-preserving fistula surgery, introducing the Anal Fistula Plug (AFP) in Gloucestershire, and advanced treatment of colonic polyps, combining laparoscopic (keyhole) and endoscopic approaches to complex polyps, which can avoid the need for major surgery. He regularly audits his surgical outcome data and both present the results at international meetings and publish them in peer review journals.

Mr Wheeler has a strong background in the training of future surgeons and has held several appointments at both a regional and national level. He is currently an Educational Supervisor at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and has previously been a regional Training Programme Director for surgical trainees. He has held several appointments at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, including the Chair of surgical training committees. He currently sits on the Intercollegiate General Surgery Advisory Committee and is responsible for Quality Assurance, reporting to the Joint Committee on Surgical Training of the UK.

Treatments and tests offered by Mr James Wheeler at Nuffield Health

  • Gastroscopy (or gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy)
  • Antral washout
  • Transanal haemorrhoid dearterialisation (THD)
  • Therapeutic Endoscopy
  • Abdominoperineal resection
  • Hernia repair
  • Rectopexy
  • Colorectal screening
  • Colonoscopy
  • Rectal examination under anaesthetic (or rectal EUA)
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy
  • Colorectal surgery
  • Diagnostic endoscopy
  • Haemorrhoidectomy
  • Anterior resection

Locations Mr James Wheeler works with

  •  

    4 Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AF

    01223 370 922
    Overall rating
    Outstanding
     
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Related experience

Research

Mr Wheeler’s doctoral thesis examined both the genetic and epigenetic changes in colorectal cancer. The Royal College of Surgeons of England has previously honoured this research with the award of the title of Hunterian Professor. He continues to have several research interests as an NHS Consultant and has published over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters. He has won several prizes including the Gold Medal from the Hunterian Society, and the Digestive Disease Foundation “research prize”.  His clinical research interests include early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, bowel cancer screening, colonoscopy, minimally invasive techniques (keyhole) for the treatment of colonic and rectal polyps, and the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of rectal cancer.

Memberships

  • Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI)
  • American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
  • Medical Protection Society
  • Royal College of Surgeons England
  • General Medical Council
  • British Medical Association

Other posts held

  • Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital