Ben Byrne

I am a Consultant General and Upper GI Surgeon based in Bristol, specialising in advanced laparoscopic (keyhole) and endoscopic surgery. My practice focuses on delivering excellent surgical outcomes with a commitment to rapid recovery and patient safety.

In addition to my private practice, I hold a consultant post at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, the regional centre for oesophago-gastric cancer. There, I serve as the Clinical Governance Lead for GI and Endoscopy, ensuring the highest standards of care and safety are maintained across our surgical services.

Areas of expertise

• Hernia Surgery: Specialist in laparoscopic (keyhole) and open repairs for groin and abdominal hernias (over 500 cases performed).
• Gallbladder Disease: Expert in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (over 400 cases performed).
• Endoscopy: Highly experienced in diagnostic and therapeutic upper GI endoscopy (over 1,500 procedures).
• Acid reflux: Expertise in assessment and surgical treatment including hiatus hernia repair and fundoplication

Clinical philosophy & quality

I believe in providing patients with clear, high-quality information to empower their decision-making. My approach combines the minimally invasive techniques—such as the TAPP approach for groin hernias—with a focus on safety and service quality.

I currently co-lead the local cholecystectomy quality improvement program as part of a national Royal College of Surgeons initiative, reflecting my dedication to provision of surgical care.

Training and research

I graduated from the University of Cambridge and completed my clinical training across the Southampton, London, and Bristol regions. My sub-specialist fellowship training in oesophago-gastric cancer was completed at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, one of the UK's highest-volume surgical units.

In 2016, I was awarded a PhD from Imperial College London. My research focused on "High Performance in Surgery" at the Centre for Patient Safety and Service Quality.