Mr Chris Johnston PhD FRCS FRCP

MBBS BSc(Hons) PhD FRCS FRCP · Consultant Transplant & General Surgeon

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh · Spire Murrayfield · Spire Shawfair Park

Why this matters to you

Affiliation

Scottish Liver Transplant Unit
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Choosing a surgeon is largely a question of trust, and trust is easier to place when you know what someone actually does all week.

In addition to general surgery, my main NHS practice revolves around liver transplantation at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh — regular, technically demanding abdominal surgery for some of the most unwell patients in Scotland.

That is the background I bring to a routine gallbladder operation. For most patients this simply means an additional margin of safety behind a straightforward procedure, but it can make a substantial difference for the minority whose anatomy is challenging or whose gallbladder is badly inflamed.

Clinical Practice

Private Practice Focus

Gallbladder Disease

Gallstones and benign gallbladder conditions, including complex stone- related pathology and post- cholecystectomy symptoms.

ERCP & Bile Ducts

Bile duct stones, obstructive jaundice, and biliary clearance via ERCP, performed weekly with personal lifetime experience of >1,500 procedures.

Hernia Repair

Primary and recurrent abdominal wall and inguinal hernia repairs utilizing evidence-based, precision surgical techniques.

Second Opinions

Thorough independent surgical reviews of existing scans, complex biliary questions, and advisory consultations before planned operations.

PRACTICE STANDARD

Direct Consultant-Delivered Care

All consultations and operations are consultant-delivered. There are no trainees or other surgeons involved in private care, and I undertake all follow-up personally.

100%

PERSONAL DELIVERY

ACADEMIC PEDIGREE

Training and qualifications

FRCP, Royal College of Physicians

2025

Fellowship awarded in recognition of advanced interventional endoscopic leadership.

Consultant Transplant and General Surgeon

SINCE 2020

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Routine hepatobiliary surgery and abdominal organ transplantation.

FRCS, Royal College of Surgeons

2019

Intercollegiate Fellowship Examination in General Surgery.

Clinical Lecturer & Honorary Specialty Registrar

2015 – 2020

University of Edinburgh & NHS Lothian. Specialty surgical training in abdominal and general surgery.

PhD (Therapeutic Immunology)

2012 – 2015

University of Edinburgh, funded as a prestigious Wellcome Trust ECAT Clinical Fellow.

MRCP, Royal College of Physicians

2010

MRCS, Royal College of Surgeons

2008

BSc(Hons), MBBS

2001 – 2007

Imperial College London. Distinction in clinical medical education.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

NHS and national leadership

"Surgeons are asked to lead retrieval services and train other surgeons by their peers, not by application — which is perhaps the most honest measure of standing among colleagues."

Clinical Lead

Edinburgh National Organ Retrieval Service (NORS)

Chair

UK NORS Clinical Leads' Forum

Deputy Chair

NHSBT Retrieval Advisory Group

Lead Educational Supervisor

Edinburgh Transplant Surgery Fellowship

book an appointment