MR ANDREW FINLAYSON
MBBS FRACS
Andrew graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2002 and went on to complete his internship and resident training at Royal Perth Hospital. He then trained in general surgery, completing his basic and advanced training through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons at various hospitals throughout Perth and regional Western Australia.
Andrew followed his general surgery training with a three year fellowship specialising in colorectal surgery. This started with 12 months at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where he later returned as a consultant surgeon. He then completed the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand post fellowship training program. This program is the only recognised colorectal training program in Australia and one of the best colorectal training programs worldwide. Through this program he trained at Royal Melbourne Hospital where he enhanced his laparoscopic skills and learnt techniques such as sacral nerve stimulation and investigation of pelvic floor disorders. As one of the major trauma hospitals in Victoria, he also gained valuable experience in the management of severe trauma. He also spent 12 months at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, servicing the largest District Health Board throughout the country. As the regional referral centre for recurrent rectal cancer, he gained valuable exposure to complex pelvic surgery.
On return to Perth he has been appointed as a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital with additional public appointments at Osborne Park Hospital. He also joined the team at Perth Colorectal Surgery with private appointments and operating at Hollywood Private Hospital.
Andrew also provides a general surgical emergency service at King Edward Memorial Hospital and works in conjunction with gynaecologists treating endometriosis and advanced gynaecological cancers both in public and private.
Andrew has interests in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery of the colon and rectum as well as complex pelvic cancer surgery. He is a member of the multidisciplinary cancer teams of both Hollywood and Sir Charles Gairdner hospitals in order to provide a comprehensive approach to cancer care. He also has an interest in surgery for inflammatory bowel disease, perianal disease including fistulas and haemorrhoids, as well as pelvic floor surgery including prolapse repair and incontinence. Andrew also offers a comprehensive general surgical service including laparoscopic hernia and gallbladder surgery.
Andrew is continually involved in surgical education. He supervises and teaches future surgeons from medical student to fellowship. He is also the course facilitator for Basic Laparoscopic Colorectal Skills at CTEC - Clinical Training and Evaluation Centre at The University of Western Australia. Andrew is also currently the Director of colorectal fellowship training at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
Throughout his medical career, Andrew has represented his peers at various levels. As a medical student he was heavily involved with the WA Medical Students Society and also coordinated a high school student health promotion program (Dr YES project). He was President of the Royal Perth Hospital Resident Medical Officers' Society and representative on the Postgraduate Medical Education Council of WA and the RPH Clinical Staff Asociation. Andrew also represented his fellow trainees on the Board in General Surgery.
Andrew has spent his life playing hockey at an elite level and continues to enjoy his time playing veteran's! Andrew is married with four young children.
Research
Prabhakaran S, Finlayson A, Anderson PD, Hayes IP. “Crohn's disease involving ileal conduit: a case report.” ANZ J Surg. 2019 May;89(5):E220-E221. doi: 10.1111/ans.14273. Epub 2017 Dec 3.
Finlayson A, Chandra R, Hastie IA, Jones IT, Shedda S, Hong MK, Yen A, Hayes IP. “Triradiate caecal fold: Is it a useful landmark for caecal intubation in colonoscopy?” World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2015 Sep 25;7(13):1103-6.
Finlayson A, Hulme-Moir M. “Palliative Colonic Stenting: A Safe Alternative to Surgery in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer.” ANZ J Surg. 2016 Oct;86(10):773-777
Lim TS, Finlayson A, Thorpe JM, Sieunarine K, Mwipatayi BP, Brady A, Abbas M, Angel D. “Outcomes of a Contemporary Amputation Series.” ANZ J Surg. 2006 May;76(5):300-5.
Mwipatayi BP, Finlayson A, Welman CJ, Hamilton MJ, Abbas M. “Axillary Artery and Brachial Plexus Injuries due to Anterior Shoulder Dislocation.” European Journal of Trauma, April 2005, Volume 31, Issue 2, pp 181-185
Podium Presentations
“Colonic Stenting in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer”. General Surgeons Australia Annual Meeting, Perth 2014
“Colonic Stenting, video presentation”. Australian Gastrointestinal Week, Melbourne 2013
“Outcomes of a Contemporary Amputation Series”. Surgical Registrars Scientific Papers Presentation, Perth 2005. Prize winner
“Outcomes of a Contemporary Amputation Series”. Annual Scientific Meeting RACS WA Branch, Perth 2005
Poster Presentations
“The triradiate caecal fold: not a useful colonoscopy landmark”. RACS Annual Scientific Conference, Singapore 2014
“Outcomes of a Contemporary Amputation Series”. RACS Annual Scientific Conference, Perth 2005