Professor Peter Whitfield

Clinical Experience Peter was appointed to Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust in 2002. Peter’s practice includes traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular surgery (brain haemorrhage, aneurysms, AVMs, cavernomas), neuro-oncology (meningioma, glioma, awake craniotomy), hydrocephalus (eg normal pressure hydrocephalus) and non-instrumented spinal surgery (lumbar microdiscectomy – including over 25 years’ experience treating patients with cauda equina syndrome and anterior cervical discectomy). Peter is also a member of the Stereotactic Radiosurgery Team in Plymouth. Expert Witness Peter has prepared medical reports regularly since 2000. These include personal injury, clinical negligence and reports for the Coroner. He has appeared as an expert witness and a professional witness in a range of court settings. Peter has delivered presentations on medicolegal aspects of neurosurgery to medical, legal and mixed audiences. Peter welcomes medicolegal instructions in areas relevant to his clinical practice. Education and Examination Roles Peter is committed to establishing and maintaining high clinical standards. Peter is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He was awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education with a Distinction. He has been Training Programme Director for the South West (Bristol and Plymouth)  SAC Chairman (2017-2020). As SAC Chairman Peter was responsible for writing a new curriculum for neurosurgery in the UK and Ireland, setting national standards and ensuring high quality training and assessment of trainees. As Secretary (2015-17) and Chairman (2017-2020) of the National Neurosurgery Selection Board, responsibilities included running the national recruitment process, selecting appropriate trainees for training in the speciality. Peter regularly teaches at a national level, including cadaveric training, simulation training and training in non-operative skills.   Peter is an assessor for the MRCS Examination, an examination undertaken by surgeons early in their surgical careers. He is also an examiner for the FRCS examination taken at the end of neurosurgical training. Furthermore, he also examines for the Joint Surgical Colleges Fellowship Examination.   Peter was the inaugural Chairman of the Fellowship of the European Board Examination in Neurosurgery (FEBNS). This examination is conducted on behalf of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and UEMS.  Peter was the Professionalism Module lead in the Peninsula Medical School (2013-2023). Leadership Peter is the Immediate Past President of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons (President 2022-24). This is an elected role, representing and leading British and Irish Neurosurgeons.

Traumatic Brain Injury Brain tumours Neurovascular conditions (aneurysms, AVMs, cavernomas) Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Non-instrumented spine - anterior cervical discectomy and fusion; lumbar discectomy/ decompression