Mr Raymond Oliphant
BMedSci(Hons) MBChB MD FRCSEd MFSTEd
Raymond Oliphant is a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon who specializes in treating a range of abdominal and digestive conditions, including those requiring colonoscopy and hernia surgery. He will be delighted to see you in clinic whether you are worried about specific symptoms, wish to discuss a confirmed diagnosis, or simply want the reassurance of a second opinion.
Raymond sees patients at Ross Hall Clinic Braehead and the Inverness Outpatient Centre and performs surgery, including robotic surgery, and endoscopy at Ross Hall Hospital, Glasgow.
He is happy to see patients referred from their GP, from other specialists, and those who self-refer. He can accommodate those who self-fund and has provider recognition with the following health insurance companies:
Bupa, Vitality, AXA, AVIVA, WPA, CIGNA, Healix, Healthcare RM, Simplyhealth, Saga.
Book an appointment
Mr Oliphant specialises in treating people who have problems with:
- The large or small bowel (such as bowel cancer, bowel cancer screening tests, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or diverticular disease)
- The anorectum / back passage (such as piles or haemorrhoids, fissures, skin tags, pilonidal disease)
- Abdominal wall / groin hernia (such as inguinal, umbilical, femoral and hernia around a stoma)
- Gall bladder disease
- Those requiring investigations for digestive symptoms or concerns (such as abdominal pain, abdominal lumps, rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, weight loss or other problems)
Robotic Surgery
Mr. Oliphant combines patient-centred holistic care with advanced surgical and investigative techniques, including upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy, to offer patients the best outcomes and quickest recovery times.
When colorectal surgery is required, Mr. Oliphant performs robotic surgery using the state-of-the-art Da Vinci Xi platform at Ross Hall Hospital, ensuring precision and efficiency, especially in procedures like hernia surgery.
Mr. Oliphant was one of the first colorectal and general surgeons in Scotland to train in robotic surgery, developing a high-volume robotic practice that innovates in advanced techniques. He has dedicated time to training in cities like Vienna, Strasbourg, Santander, London, Copenhagen, and Milan, where he learned the latest robotic techniques from international experts in the field.
He was the first surgeon in Scotland to perform:
- a robotic Kono-S anastomosis (a specialist operation for Crohn’s disease)
- a complex robotic paediatric colorectal surgery
- a major robotic colorectal operation for colon cancer as a day case procedure
- a robotic panproctocolectomy (complete removal of the large bowel and anus)
- a robotic assisted natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) operation
Mr. Oliphant is also one of only a few surgeons in Scotland trained in robotic complete mesocolic excision / central vascular ligation (CME/CVL) surgery, which can enhance survival rates for some patients with bowel cancer.
Compared to traditional surgery, robotic surgery using the Da Vinci XI platform can lead to less post-operative pain, faster recovery, fewer complications, and better long-term outcomes for patients.
Mr Oliphant says:
"Robotic surgery has significantly improved the outcomes for my patients, allowing quicker recovery with fewer complications. This advanced technique offers patients the opportunity to undergo complex procedures, such as colorectal surgery and hernia surgery, with increased precision through a minimally invasive approach.
For this reason, I routinely use robotic surgery to perform cases where I would have previously used laparoscopic or open surgery.”
Colonoscopy and Endoscopy
Many digestive symptoms or problems will require further investigation involving a colonoscopy or upper GI endoscopy. Mr. Oliphant has a high-volume colonoscopy and endoscopy practice, which includes bowel cancer screening tests and removal of polyps, and he is fully JAG certified.
As a member of the National Endoscopy Training Programme in Scotland, he plays a vital role in training other consultants. He performs investigations using the latest techniques in endoscopy and colorectal surgery to ensure high-quality procedures are conducted with care and comfort.
Mr. Oliphant serves as the Clinical Lead for Endoscopy and Endoscopy Training for both NHS Highland and NHS Golden Jubilee, and he is the Director of the North of Scotland Endoscopy Training Centre.
Additionally, he is an active member of the Colonoscopy Subcommittee for the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland and sits on the British Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopy Guideline Committee, specializing in best practice treatment for colorectal polyps.
VAAFT / EPSiT
Mr. Oliphant also offers minimally invasive surgical options for those suffering with anal fistula or pilonidal sinus disease. Using a thin fistula scope connected to a high definition monitor, fistula and sinus tracts can be cleaned, cauterised and destroyed allowing fewer wounds, quicker healing and less pain than traditional surgical methods.
VAAFT = Video assisted anal fistula treatment
EPSiT = Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment
Training and experience
Mr. Oliphant completed higher surgical training in the West of Scotland in 2016 before further specializing at the world-renowned St Mark’s Hospital in London, which includes the esteemed Wolfson Unit of Endoscopy. He then pursued a fellowship in minimally invasive colorectal surgery at Concord Repatriation Hospital in Sydney, leading to his appointment as a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, in 2017. In 2023, he was appointed as a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital, expanding his expertise to include robotic hernia surgery.
Mr. Oliphant was awarded an MD from the University of Glasgow for his research in colorectal cancer epidemiology, with findings that received the 2014 John Farndon Prize from the British Journal of Surgery. In 2019, he became an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen. Throughout his career, he has published over 40 research papers, including groundbreaking studies on robotic surgery techniques, showcasing his commitment to advancing the field of colorectal surgery.
Clinical Interests
- Robotic colorectal surgery
- Robotic general surgery including hernia surgery
- Colorectal cancer surgery
- Inflammatory bowel disease surgery (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
- Proctology including haemorrhoids, skin tags, fistulae, fissures, pilonidal disease
- Diverticular disease surgery
- Colonoscopy including bowel cancer screening
- Upper GI endoscopy
- Hernia surgery
- General surgery
Professional Memberships
- General Medical Council, UK
- Medical Defence Union, UK
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Association of Coloproctology of GB&I
- European Society of Coloproctology
- European Hernia Society
- Faculty of Surgical Trainers, Edinburgh
- St Mark’s Association