January 2026
20 January 2026
(Last updated 20 Jan 2026)
Chapter Representatives:
Peter Vaughan-Shaw, Consultant, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
Raymond Oliphant, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon, Golden Jubilee University National Hospital, Clydebank
About the Region
Scotland spans 30,000 square miles, with over 900 islands. NHS Scotland served a population of 5.5 million across 14 regional health boards. The three largest hospitals, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh sit within the east and west’s largest cities. A number of other large teaching hospitals deliver world leading care within Scotland, including in Aberdeen, Dundee, Dumfries, Inverness, the Borders and Fife. It is also host to a large national treatment centre based at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in Clydebank. The expanse of the highlands and islands brings its own challenges with rural surgical services providing care across huge areas.
Since 2021, over 10,000 patients have benefitted from robotic-assisted surgery following Scottish Government investment in 12 additional robotic systems. Robotic training continues to expand, with the ACPGBI-badged Robotic Fellowship in Glasgow now in its third cycle.
Chapter Representative
- Peter Vaughan-Shaw is a consultant colorectal surgeon with a strong interest in training. He is a former Dukes’ Club President, BJS Editor for Technology and Innovation, and sits on the RCSEd Robotic Taskforce and Surgical Specialty Board.
- Raymond Oliphant is a consultant colorectal and general Surgeon based at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital. He has clinical interests in robotic colorectal (cancer and IBD), general surgery and diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy. He is North of Scotland Lead for the National Endoscopy Training Programme and sits on the ACPGBI Colonoscopy Sub-committee. He is passionate about improving access to good quality endoscopic and robotic training.
Fellowships & Training Opportunities
Fellowship jobs are normally advertised on NHS Jobs Scotland https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk. Informal enquiries are welcome for fellowship or OOPE opportunities via contacts listed below.
Contact: Campbell.Roxburgh@glasgow.ac.uk
Contact: Martha.Quinn2@nhs.scot
Contact: Campbell.Roxburgh@glasgow.ac.uk
- Edinburgh Colorectal Unit - 12 month tertiary fellowships with tailored subspecialty focus. High volume specialised colorectal unit, with colorectal oncall, pouch and complex IBD, robotic surgery (CMR and Intuitive) and early rectal cancer focus. Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.
Contact: hugh.paterson@nhs.scot
- NHS Highland - General and colorectal fellowships in Raigmore Colorectal Unit
Contact: colin.richards@nhs.scot
- NHS Tayside - offers regular pre- and post-CCT fellowships, including a Clinical Fellowship in Pelvic Floor Surgery.
Contact: dorin.ziyaie@nhs.scot
Research fellowships
A number of academic centres across Scotland have a impressive research portfolio, including world-leading translational research in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness and beyond. There are regular opportunities for dedicated supervised out-of-programme periods of research in the form of high impact research fellowships. Please contact chapter reps or one of the following contacts for further information:
- Edinburgh – strong translational and genomics colorectal research reputation
Contact: Malcolm.dunlop@ed.ac.uk or farhat.din@ed.ac.uk
- Glasgow – broad colorectal translational research programme, including the longitudinal assessment of response during, and following, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer and the immune microenvironment of locally advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer.
Contact: Campbell.Roxburgh@glasgow.ac.uk
- Highlands – Clinical research fellowships (PhD or MD) in NHS Highlands.
Contact: Prof Angus Watson angus.watson@nhs.scot
Meetings & Educational Events
With new regional representatives starting Summer 2025, a national Scottish chapter meeting is planned for mid 2026. Members are encouraged to contact chapter representatives with ideas or requests.
Subspecialty Strengths
Robotic colorectal surgery is now well established across 10 hospital sites in Scotland. While initially focused on colorectal cancer, most sites now offer robotic surgery for benign colorectal disease, as well as several sites robotic hernia and complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Robotic surgery, coupled with a strong translational colorectal research footprint highlights the drive in colorectal innovation and research advancement that Scotland can boast.
Get Involved
The Scottish chapter offers access to high-volume colorectal units, world-leading research, and excellent training. Outside of work there is no shortage of attractions: from the Edinburgh Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world, to skiing in the highlands, mountain hiking in the Munros and the turquoise waters and white sands of our numerous idyllic beaches.
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