Expert Witness – Mr Oliver Jones
Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon

Mr Jones is an established Consultant in colorectal and general surgery in a renowned colorectal unit within a major teaching hospital. He was Clinical Director for Surgery in the Trust from 2018 to 2022. Mr Jones completed medical school at the University of Oxford and spent one year teaching at the University of Cambridge Department of Anatomy before Senior House Officer training in London. He spent his Specialist Registar training years in Wessex and finished his training on a laparoscopic colorectal fellowship at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia.

Mr Jones’ treats all aspects of colorectal surgery; his particular areas of interest in his elective practice are pelvic floor disorders (childbirth injury, incontinence, prolapse and constipation/ obstructed defaecation), proctology (haemorrhoids, fissures, fistulae), inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, endometriosis and advanced laparoscopic surgery for cancer. He takes part fully in the on call rota.

Mr Jones was Clinical Director for Surgery from 2018 to 2022. In this role, he managed nearly 500 staff and an income of £36 million. He was responsible for ensuring services were patient focused and achieving national and local targets and standards. His directorate saw over 30 000 out-patients per annum and had over 10 000 elective and emergency admissions per annum. Mr Jones was furthermore responsible for delivering contracted activities within financial budgets and for governance.

Mr Jones spent two years undertaking full time research in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford from 2000 to 2002. He undertook laboratory research into the physiology of the internal anal sphincter and its role in continence and incontinence. It examined the potential for new treatments for benign anal disease. These included methoxamine as a potential treatment for faecal incontinence, through augmentation of sympathetic drive to the internal anal sphincter. It also examined drugs to reduce sphincter tone such as the phosphodiesterase inhibitors. The mechanism of action of the established treatment of botulinum toxin was also evaluated. Further studies involved knockout mice, with disruption of the gene encoding the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase. These mice have pyloric hypertrophy and gastric dilatation, but do not have megarectum. This was investigated in vivo, with anorectal manometry and in vitro with smooth muscle strips in the organ bath. Mr Jones was also involved in the design and execution of a trial examining the relative efficacies of Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN), botulinum toxin, and dual therapy for anal fissure. He was also involved in trials examining the use of botulinum toxin in patients with anal fissure failing to heal on GTN paste. These trials have now been completed and published.

Mr Jones has published two books on surgery, over 100 research articles and reviews and nine book chapters. He has been co-author on national guidelines around the treatment of anal fissure and diverticular disease. He has run and published a several clinical trials.

Mr Jones was one of the LAPCO trainers in laparoscopic colorectal surgery in Oxford. Here, they regularly had consultants coming to the hospital for hands-on training in laparoscopic colorectal. He was the Lead for Simulation for the Thames Valley School of Surgery for three years. During this time, he set up a programme based on models, Human Factors Training, and Cadaveric Dissection for surgical trainees. Mr Jones is involved with the clinical and educational supervision of a number of trainees in the hospital. Mr Jones has been the lead for medical student teaching for colorectal surgery. He was an examiner for 2nd BM finals for six years and was recently Chief Examiner for the Principle of Clinical Anatomy Course for 1st BM anatomy for undergraduate medical students at Oxford University.

Mr Jones has been acting as an expert witness since 2014 years and has undergone expert witness training. He has completed the Bond Solon course. Mr Jones enjoys a full medico-legal practice instructed by both Claimant and Defendant law firms in personal injury and clinical negligence cases. Mr Jones has given evidence in Court.