Consultant Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and Liver Transplant Surgeon

Introduction

Mr John Hammond is a Consultant Surgeon and Associate Clinical Professor specialising in diseases of the liver, pancreas, bile ducts, and gallbladder. He also has expertise in the management of neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas and small intestine, as well as selected adrenal and retroperitoneal tumours.

John was appointed as a Consultant HPB and Liver Transplant Surgeon at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2015, where he led the regional liver and pancreas service, before returning to Ireland in 2025 to join the National Liver Transplant Programme at St Vincent’s University Hospital.

He has a specialist interest in the treatment of liver cancer, colorectal liver metastases, pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumours, and liver transplantation. During his time in Newcastle, he established an award-winning Enhanced Recovery Programme that improved patient outcomes, accelerated recovery, and reduced hospital stay following major liver and pancreatic surgery.

John has an active interest in clinical research and innovation and has led recruitment to numerous national and international clinical trials in HPB surgery and surgical oncology. At St Vincent’s University Hospital, he leads the development of Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) liver transplantation and machine perfusion technologies, introducing new approaches designed to increase organ utilisation and improve transplant outcomes in Ireland.

Training and Qualifications

BMedSci (Hons), BMBS, PhD, FRCS (Gen Surg)

John graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2000 and completed higher surgical training in Nottingham and Leeds. He was awarded prestigious research fellowships from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Wellcome Trust, and the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA). He subsequently held a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Lectureship and undertook research fellowships in Pittsburgh, USA, and Norway.

Research and Leadership

John has held a number of national and international leadership roles in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery and transplantation. He is a Co-Chair of the Scientific Programme Committee of the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (EAHPBA) and served on the Council of the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS).

In Ireland, he contributes to national service development through Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland (ODTI), including working groups focused on multi-organ retrieval, organ utilisation, and transplantation. At St Vincent’s University Hospital, he leads the development of the national DCD liver transplant and machine perfusion programme.

Clinical Interests

Liver

  • Colorectal liver metastases
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
  • Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)
  • Liver cysts and benign liver tumours
  • Assessment of patients with chronic liver disease for liver surgery
  • Liver transplant assessment

Pancreas

  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours
  • Pancreatic cysts
  • Acute and chronic pancreatitis

Neuroendocrine Tumours

  • Small bowel neuroendocrine tumours
  • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Gallbladder and Bile Duct

  • Gallstones
  • Bile duct stones
  • Gallbladder polyps
  • Benign and malignant biliary disease

Abdominal Wall Hernias

  • Incisional hernia
  • Paraumbilical hernia
  • Groin hernia
  • Complex abdominal wall hernia

John also provides specialist second opinions for patients with complex liver, pancreatic, biliary, and neuroendocrine conditions.