Curriculum vitae
Mr James W Fairley
BSc MBBS FRCS MS (Lond)
Consultant ENT Surgeon

Sandyhurst House   Sandyhurst Lane   Ashford   Kent   TN25 4NX
tel   01233 642244     fax   01233 662840

Updated: March 2008

Profile / Summary

• Accredited Consultant Ear Nose & Throat Specialist
• Over 25 years clinical experience
• Established independent and NHS practice South East England since 1993
• Strong academic background in evidence based medicine
• Skilled in general otolaryngology, adults and children
• Special interests in otology, rhinology and laser surgery
• Lifetime commitment to clinical excellence

Full Name

James William Fairley

British. Married, three children

Accredited Trained Specialist in Otolaryngology (Royal College of Surgeons of England)

Member Hospital Consultants & Specialists Association

William Harvey Hospital Kennington Road Ashford Kent TN24 OLZ
Buckland Hospital Coombe Valley Road Dover Kent CT17 0LG

Private Practice Office

Private Hospitals

Sandyhurst House Sandyhurst Lane Ashford Kent TN25 4NX

St Saviours Hospital 73 Seabrook Road Hythe Kent CT21 5QW
The Chaucer Hospital Nackington Road Canterbury Kent CT4 7AR
Benenden Hospital Benenden Cranbrook Kent TN17 4AX

• NHS and private practice, adults and children
• approx 2,000 new referrals & 3,000 follow-up patients seen per year
• specialist opinion provided on the full spectrum of ENT disorders
• approx 500 ENT surgical operations performed per year

General Otolaryngology (Adult & Paediatric)

Otology (including complex middle ear surgery, stapes surgery and BAHA implants)

• over 1,000 major middle ear operations completed
• Published results of Causse laser stapedotomy on par with best reported internationally
• Published results of BAHA implants on par with best reported nationally

Rhinology (including functional endoscopic sinus surgery and cosmetic rhinoplasty)

• several thousand routine nasal procedures since 1984
• lateral rhinotomy, fronto-ethmoidectomy, transantral ligation of the maxillary artery, and radical frontal sinus obliteration with osteoplastic flap successfully performed
• Approx 2,000 FESS operations since 1987; one intracranial penetration with CSF leak 2007 (recognised and repaired immediately, no long term sequelae) no serious eye complications
• Cosmetic and functional rhinoplasty regularly performed

LASER surgery

• KTP laser regularly used since 1995, CO2 since 1984
• Accredited LASER user

Head & Neck Surgery

• diagnostic procedures including laryngoscopy, pharyngo-oesophagoscopy, biopsies, fine needle aspirations regularly performed

• patients requiring cancer treatment are referred to multidisciplinary teams

• parotidectomy, submandibular gland, branchial cyst, thyroglossal cyst excisions regularly performed with good results

Facial Plastic Surgery

• experienced in both internal and external rhinoplasty techniques
• functional and cosmetic procedures carried out regularly
• pinnaplasty / otoplasty carried out with good results

Endoscopy

• Skilled use of rigid and fibreoptic endoscopes
• microlaryngsocpy including vocal cord augmentation injection
• functional endoscopic sinus surgery regularly performed.

This section is written as a narrative in the first person as I feel that the heart and soul of being a good doctor cannot and should not be reduced to a series of bullet points......

My approach to professional excellence is simple.
I treat people as I would like members of my own family to be treated.
I do the very best I can (given the difficult circumstances we face in the NHS) for every patient referred to me.
I am approachable, friendly, and try to establish empathy early in a consultation.
I believe in "getting it right first time".
This means more than getting the diagnosis right.
It means finding out what the patient hopes for and expects from treatment, and explaining the limitations and risks of surgery.
Having explained treatment options in terms I hope the patient can understand, I check they have understood it.
My policy is complete openness and honesty.
I give copies of my GP letters to patients and parents as a matter of course.
I keep up to date, and I learn from my patients.
I know my own strengths and limitations.
I don't hesitate to discuss difficult problems with colleagues, and refer on when necessary.
Though lucky enough to have "a good pair of hands" I always strive to improve my surgical skills.
In theatre, I am a meticulous operator, though not one of the quickest.
For emergencies, I am always available when on-call, and do not hesitate to come in even when not on-call if there is a problem with one of my patients.
In clinics and in theatre, I stay as long as it takes.
I am grateful to all the colleagues I worked with during my nine years of excellent postgraduate training in ENT- including over 20 individual consultants in seven busy departments. This gave me broad clinical experience and a sound basis for further professional development. I am now in my 15th year of independent practice, and have built on this foundation a wealth of clinical experience and judgement, learned mostly from my patients, to whom I am most grateful for entrusting me with their lives and wellbeing.

• NHS and BUPA clinical governance and outcomes assessment participant
• Contribute data to National Audits organised by the Royal College of Surgeons and ENT.UK
• Present audit results locally, nationally & internationally
• Annual appraisal by NHS Trust scheme for Consultants since inception
• Track record of acting on audit results - gave up using laser for tonsillectomy & returned to conventional instruments following audit which showed unacceptably high level of secondary haemorrhages
• Published results of audit of stapes surgery and BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid) show results equal to best published figures internationally
• CME (Continuing Medical Education) continually updated

• Lifetime philosophical interest in science & basis of knowledge
• Strong pre-medical school grounding in mathematics, statistics, & scientific logic
• Skills in use of scientific & medical reference literature since 1978 Bsc Pharmacology
• Experience in bioassay techniques, physiological research & experimental surgery
• Work in research laboratories developing new drugs for Swiss pharmaceutical company 1978
• Early user of on-line literature research services since 1987 (pre-internet - dialog knowledge index)
• Major interest in evaluation of surgical interventions, developed symptom-scoring outcome assessment tool for rhinosinusitis
• Set up & ran nasal research clinic Sheffield 1990 - 93
• Carried out a prospective randomized controlled trial of FESS versus conventional inferior meatal antrostomy for recurrent acute and chronic sinusitis
• Fundamental endoscopic anatomical research into localization of pathological processes causing facial pain and headache
• Currently Reviewer for Clinical Otolaryngology & Cochrane ENT Group

• Practical scientific & medical teaching since 1978
• Skills in formal tutorials, lectures, marking written work & viva voce examinations since 1983
• Formal & informal teaching to students, medical colleagues and colleagues from professions allied to medicine throughout career
• Former London University Examiner in medical aspects of voice (BSc Speech Science students)
• Graduate of Royal College of Surgeons "Training the Trainers" course
• Regular one-to-one teaching of junior medical staff in out-patients and operating theatres
• Coaching of junior colleagues for postgraduate examinations
Numerous regional, national and international presentations on my research
• Lectures and demonstrations on regional, national and international courses
• Regarded as a good public speaker (evidenced by formal and informal feedback following presentations)
• Current examiner & mentor Postgraduate Diploma in ENT course (for GP's with Special Interest)

Current Vice Chair, Medical Advisory Committee, St Saviours Hospital
Former Lead clinician ENT & Clinical Board member, South Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 1996 - 2000

House Officer General Medicine St Helier Hospital Carshalton Surrey

St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School, University of London

Laboratories Sandoz AG, Basle, Switzerland (Research Assistant)

Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass USA (Core Clinical Clerkship)

1980

Medical School Distinction
Hadden Prize (microbiology) St Thomas's

1974 - 1975

De la Salle College, Pendleton, Manchester

St. Joseph's Grammar Technical School, Hebburn, County Durham

Fairley JW and Dhillon RS (1999)
Multiple Choice Questions in Otolaryngology (2nd Edition)
Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford

Video
Fairley JW. Dhillon RS, Epstein R, Davies DG. (1989)
Spastic Dysphonia: Diagnosis and Treatment
Shiley prize entry 1989; shown at XIV World Congress ORL, Madrid, Sept 1989.

Patient education booklet
Fairley JW. (1989)
Sinusitis
Health Information Network, Maidenhead, Berks, UK.

Papers - published
Fairley JW. Reynolds FR. (1981)
An intradermal study of the local anaesthetic and vascular effects of the isomers of mepivacaine. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 53; 1211-1216.

Croft CB, McKelvie P, Fairley JW. Hol-Allen RTJ, Shaheen O. (1986)
The treatment of paralysis of the vocal cords.
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 79; 473-475

Fairley JW. Dhillon RS, Weller IDV. (1988)
HIV Glue Ear and adenoidal hypertrophy.
Lancet;1422

Fairley JW. (1989)
Making computerized surgical audit work. Hospital Doctor, 16 February

Fairley JW. (1989)
Invention of flexible fibreoptic endoscope.
Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 103; 647

Fairley JW. Glover GW. (1989)
Treating malignant otitis with oral ciprofloxacin.
British Medical Journal, 299; 794-799.

Fairley JW. (1990)
Adenoidal hypertrophy and HIV infection.
Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 104; 449

Fairley JW. Hunt BJ, Glover GW. Radley-Smith RC, Yacoub MH. (1990)
Unusual lymphoproliferative oropharyngeal lesions in heart and heart-lung transplant recipients.
Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 104(9); 720-724.

Fairley JW. (1991)
Patrick Watson-Williams and the concept of focal sepsis in the sinuses: An historical caveat for functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 105(1); 1-6.

Fairley JW. (1991)
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.
Medical Society (BUPA Hospitals) 12; 5.

Fairley JW. Cross S, Shaw JD, Glover GW. Bennett MH. (1991)
Kikuchi's necrotising lymphadenitis.
Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 105(6); 496-499.

Fairley JW. (1991)
Computers in Medicine. (Meeting Report)
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 84(9); 566-567.

Fairley JW. Hughes M. (1992)
Acute stridor due to bilateral vocal fold paralysis as a presenting sign of myasthenia gravis.
Journal of Laryngology and Otology 106(8); 737-738.

Fairley JW. Yardley MPJ, Durham LH. (1992)
Pressure applied to middle turbinate causes pain at lower threshold than inferior turbinate or nasal septum.
Abstract book - 14th Congress European Rhinologic Society, Rome, Oct 6-10; 96; Also published as ORS Abstract in Clinical Otolaryngology (1993) 18; 87.

Fairley JW. Yardley MPJ, Durham LH. Stevens JC. (1992)
The Sheffield nasal pressure probe: A new device to measure pain thresholds.
Abstract book - 14th Congress European Rhinologic Society, Rome, Oct 6-10; 189.

Ell SR, Stephenson L, Fairley JW. Parker AJ. (1992)
The effect of changes in atmospheric weather conditions on the incidence of epistaxis.
Abstract book - 14th Congress European Rhinologic Society, Rome, Oct 6-10; 97.

Fairley JW. (1992)
Diagnosing maxillary sinusitis. (letter)
British Medical Journal 305; 1223. (14 November)

Fairley JW. Durham LH. Ell SR. (1993)
Correlation of subjective sensation of nasal patency with nasal inspiratory peak flow rate.
Clinical Otolaryngology 18; 19-22.

Fairley JW. Yardley MPJ, Durham LH. Parker AJ. (1993)
Reliability and validity of a nasal symptom questionnaire for use as an outcome measure in clinical research and audit of functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
Clinical Otolaryngology 18; 436-437.

Fairley JW. (1993)
Outcome measures for sinus surgery: A randomized controlled trial of endoscopic middle meatal antrostomy versus conventional inferior meatal antrostomy.
Proceedings of the third International Conference on Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Jerusalem. (Elsevier, Amsterdam)

Fairley JW. Yardley MPJ, Durham LH. Stevens J. (1994)
The Sheffield Nasal Pressure Probe: The development of a new device to measure intranasal pain thresholds.
Rhinology 32(1); 45-46

Fairley JW. (1994)
A prospective randomized controlled trial of functional endoscopic sinus surgery: Endoscopic middle meatal antrostomy versus conventional inferior meatal antrostomy. Interim results.
Clinical Otolaryngology 19; 267

Yardley MPJ, Fairley JW. Durham LH. Parker AJ. (1994)
Day case tonsil and adenoid surgery: How many are eligible?
Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 39; 162-163

Fairley JW. (1995)
Outcome measures for sinus surgery: A randomized controlled trial of endoscopic middle meatal antrostomy versus conventional inferior meatal antrostomy.
in Tos, M. Thomsen J. & Balle V. Rhinology - a state of the art. Kugler, Amsterdam. ISBN 90 6299119 X

Fairley JW. (1996)
Correlation of nasal symptoms with objective findings and surgical outcome measurement
(Master of Surgery Thesis, University of London)

1. General introduction and historical review.

2. Correlation of subjective sensation of nasal patency with nasal inspiratory peak flow rate in healthy volunteers.

3. Nasal pressure probes studies using a new device in healthy volunteers: Pressure applied to middle turbinate causes pain at lower threshold than inferior turbinate or nasal septum.

4. Reliability and validity of a nasal symptom questionnaire for use as an outcome measure in clinical research and audit.

5. The relationship between pain projected on a diagram of the face and systematically documented findings using rigid nasendoscopy

6. The relationship between symptom scores on a specially designed questionnaire and corresponding objective measurements: Nasal inspiratory peak flow and subjective sensation of nasal obstruction.

7. The relationship between symptom scores on a specially designed questionnaire and corresponding objective measurements: Postnasal drip, rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction, cough and mucociliary clearance time.

8. The effect on symptoms of facial pain and headache of medical treatment and operations designed to remove endoscopically documented areas of mucosal contact between the turbinates and nasal septum.

Fairley JW (1996)
Chronic Sinusitis: Evaluation of Surgical Results (Abstract)
Nordisk-Oto-Laryngologisk Forening XXVI Kongress, Tammerfors, Finland.
ISBN 952-9705-06-9

Fairley JW. (1996)
ENT Problems in HIV infection
Clinical Focus Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery 1.3;9-10

Fairley JW. (1996)
The Historical ENT Perspective
CME Bulletin Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery 1.1;1MBBS

Fairley JW. (1997)
The Joseph Society
CME Bulletin Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery 1.2;42

Fairley JW (1997)
Pricking the FESS bubble: time for a realistic look (anonymous editorial)
CME Bulletin Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery 1.1

Konstantinidis I, Vaz F, Triaridis S, Fairley JW (2002)
Causse Laser Stapedotomy. Results and Patient Satisfaction Rate Audit in a District General Hospital
Hippokratia 6 Suppl. 1; 15-18 full text (pdf, 146 kB)

Gillett D, Fairley JW. Chandrashaker TS, Bean A, Gonzalez J. (2006)
Bone-anchored hearing aids: results of the first eight years of a programme in a district general hospital, assessed by the Glasgow benefit inventory
J Laryngol Otol Jul;120(7):537-42 Abstract

Fairley JW. (2006)
Cochrane reviews of surgical treatments (Editorial)
Clinical Otolaryngology 31;(Dec) 496-98

Fairley JW. (2007)
IT is damaging doctor-patient relationship
News / Opinion: Visions for the NHS
Hospital Doctor, Elsevier Healthcare, Sept 5 2007

Leong AC, Fairley JW, Padgham ND. (2007)
Sudden hearing loss
Clin Otolaryngol. 2007 Oct;32(5):391-4. full text, html

Fairley JW. (2007)
Digital age distraction or radiology revolution?
Clinical Services Journal 2007 Nov;6(10): 18-19