Mr James Smellie
Surgeon.
Scholar.
Specialist.
Cambridge-educated and internationally trained, Mr Smellie brings over 24 years of consultant experience to every patient he treats at Cleveland Clinic London.
Mr Smellie believes informed patients make better decisions. Here you will find clear information about the conditions he treats and what to expect from your care at Cleveland Clinic London.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that produces hormones controlling metabolism. Mr Smellie treats the full range of thyroid conditions, from benign nodules to thyroid cancer, using minimally invasive techniques designed to minimise scarring.
The parathyroid glands regulate calcium levels in the blood. Overactive parathyroid glands (hyperparathyroidism) can cause kidney stones, bone loss, fatigue and depression. Mr Smellie performs focused minimally invasive parathyroidectomy with intraoperative PTH monitoring.
The adrenal glands sit above the kidneys and produce hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenal tumours can be functional (hormone-secreting) or non-functional. Mr Smellie performs Da Vinci robotic adrenal surgery for optimal precision and recovery.
A hernia occurs when an internal organ pushes through a weakness in the muscle or tissue. Mr Smellie uses the Da Vinci robotic system for hernia repair — offering greater precision, smaller incisions and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.
Mr Smellie is recognised by all major private medical insurers. If you have private health insurance, please contact your insurer before your appointment to confirm your cover and obtain an authorisation number.
Self-pay patients are warmly welcome. Mr Smellie is committed to providing world-class care at a transparent, affordable price. Fixed-price packages are available for many procedures.
To book a consultation with Mr Smellie at Cleveland Clinic London, call us or book online. Same-week appointments are often available.
0800 098 1942 Book OnlineMr Smellie's team are happy to answer any queries before you book. Call us or send an enquiry and we will get back to you promptly.
0800 098 1942Cambridge-educated and internationally trained, Mr Smellie brings over 24 years of consultant experience to every patient he treats at Cleveland Clinic London.
Mr Smellie's research has been widely published in peer-reviewed medical journals covering endocrine disease and cancer-related topics. He regularly attends national and international conferences to ensure his practice reflects the very latest evidence and techniques.
His two principal areas of expertise are robotic hernia surgery and endocrine surgery — both available at Cleveland Clinic London. In robotic hernia surgery, Mr Smellie uses the Da Vinci robotic system to achieve levels of precision and dexterity not possible with conventional laparoscopy, enabling complex repairs including abdominal wall divarication that would otherwise require open surgery.
In endocrine surgery, Mr Smellie treats the full spectrum of thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal disease — including thyroid cancer, multinodular goitres, hyperparathyroidism, phaeochromocytoma and adrenal tumours. Adrenal surgery is now performed using the Da Vinci robotic adrenal surgery system.
Mr Smellie has a particular interest in the cosmetic outcomes of surgery — a key reason he has embraced robotic techniques, which allow smaller incisions, reduced scarring and faster recovery for his patients.
Mr Smellie sees both insured and self-pay patients from the UK and abroad at Cleveland Clinic London.
0800 098 1942BA MB BChir(Hons) MD (Cantab) FRCS (Gen)
Consultant Endocrine, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal & Robotic Hernia Surgeon serving London and international patients.
Mr Smellie is a Consultant General Surgeon specialising in endocrine disease and robotic hernia surgery for both private and NHS patients in London. He trained at St Thomas's Hospital, St George's Hospital, the Royal Postgraduate Medical School Hammersmith, and the Royal Marsden before completing his Cambridge MB BChir with Honours.
He undertook further training and research at the Medical College of Virginia, The Mayo Clinic (USA), and the Institute of Cancer Research. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in 1992.
Mr Smellie now exclusively treats private patients at the state-of-the-art Cleveland Clinic London, 33 Grosvenor Place, Belgravia, and holds an NHS practice at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital where he has worked for 24 years.
Full BiographyMr Smellie combines three decades of operative experience with the precision of Da Vinci robotic surgery for optimal patient outcomes.
Inguinal, femoral, umbilical and incisional hernia repair using the Da Vinci robotic system. Specialist interest in post-pregnancy abdominal wall reconstruction and rectus divarication.
Learn more →Treatment of thyroid nodules, goitres, thyroid cancer, and thyrotoxicosis. Minimally invasive approaches to minimise scarring and maximise cosmetic outcome.
Learn more →Surgical management of hyperparathyroidism and parathyroid adenomas. Focused minimally invasive parathyroidectomy with intraoperative PTH monitoring.
Learn more →Robotic and laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal tumours, phaeochromocytoma, Conn's syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome. Da Vinci robotic technique for precision access.
Learn more →Mr Smellie performed my thyroid surgery with exceptional skill and care. His calm, thorough approach gave me complete confidence from the first consultation through to recovery.
The robotic hernia repair was transformative. Minimal scarring, quick recovery, and Mr Smellie explained every step clearly. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
After years of hyperparathyroidism symptoms, Mr Smellie resolved the problem in a single, beautifully executed procedure. The care at Cleveland Clinic London was outstanding throughout.
Mr Smellie sees both insured and self-pay patients from the UK and abroad. Same-week appointments are often available.
0800 098 1942
Mr W James B Smellie
BA MB BChir(Hons) MD (Cambridge) FRCS (Gen)
Consultant Endocrine, Thyroid, Parathyroid Adrenal and Robotic Hernia Surgeon.
Cleveland Clinic; 33 Grosvenor Place London
SW1X 7HY.
For appointments call 0800 098 1942
Mr James Smellie is a Cambridge University-educated Consultant General Surgeon. He specialises in the treatment of thyroid, parathyroid and endocrine disease and robotic laparoscopic hernia surgery (with a particular interest in post-pregnancy umbilical hernia surgery as well as male and female groin hernia) for both Private and NHS patients in London. With 24 years of consultant experience, Mr Smellie is dedicated to providing the most appropriate treatment for all his patients and has a wealth of operative experience in Thyroid, Endocrine and Hernia Surgery. He now exclusively sees and operates on Private Patients at the all-new state of the art Cleveland Clinic London and is happy to see both insured and self pay patients from the UK and abroad.
About James Smellie
In 1988, Mr Smellie trained at St Thomas’s Hospital London, St Georges Hospital London, the Royal Postgraduate Medical School Hammersmith and the Royal Marsden Hospital London after receiving his degree with honours in Medicine from the University of Cambridge and completed his USA foreign medical examinations at the same time.
In 1992, Mr Smellie became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS), and undertook further training and medical research at the Medical College of Virginia USA, The Mayo Clinic, USA and the Institute of Cancer Research at the Royal Marsden Hospital London.
Professional Practice
Mr Smellie’s research has been widely published in medical journals in endocrine disease and cancer-related topics and he regularly attends conferences/updates to enhance his practice.
Mr Smellie has two fields of expertise which are both available at the Cleveland Clinic London. The first is Robotic Hernia surgery; the ultramodern approach to laparoscopic hernia surgery using the Da Vinci Robot system to give high degrees of optics and fine instrument dexterity. This allows for treatments of the abdominal wall that cannot be done easily with conventional laparoscopy; such as divarication surgery. The second expertise is in Endocrine surgery and Mr Smellie treats patients with thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal surgery including thyroid cancer; goitres, hyperparathyroidism and adrenal disease. The adrenal surgery is now also performed on the Da Vinci robot. Mr Smellie., working as a member of the team at the Cleveland Clinic London is above all committed to providing the most appropriate, research-based care. At the heart of this decision making is the best possible outcome for the patient; for self pay patients at an affordable price.
Mr Smellie has a particular interest in the cosmetic effects of surgery on patients; hernce the use of the robot in hernia surgery and rectus divarication.
James Smellie has an NHS practice at the Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust Hospital, London, where he has worked for 24 years. He privately operates at the Cleveland Clinic London; a large new build state of the art hospital in central London with outpatient facilities in the City of London and in Portland Place as well as on the main Hospital site on Grosvenor Place by Buckingham Palace. in Belgravia
Mr Smellie is an expert in the following areas:
Robotic or open Hernia repairs
Umbilical Hernia
Thyroid Surgery and Treatment
Parathyroid Surgery (hyperparathyroidism)
Thyrotoxicosis
Find Out More:
Surgery Information
Patient Testimonials