Craniofacial

(Page last updated: September 2025)
Roles for Leads and Deputy Leads of SSIGs (updated 1 May 2025)
Co-Leads: Mr Aitor de Gea Rico & Mr Ahad Shafi (Aug 2025 - July 2028)
Deputy Lead: Stephen Brandsma (Aug 2025 - July 2028)
Craniofacial surgery units in the UK
There are four Highly Specialised Craniofacial Units designated to provide specialist services for children and adults born with craniofacial problems in England, and one in Scotland.
Referrals by GPs are accepted at Alder Hey (Liverpool), Birmingham and Oxford Children’s Hospitals. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London requires GPs use the GOSH online GP referral system. The Units will also take referrals from paediatricians or other hospital consultants.
The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow will normally only accept referrals from paediatricians/hospital consultants, although direct referrals from GPs may be accepted in certain circumstances.
The scope of the craniofacial service in England:
The craniofacial surgery service is designated to treat all patients with congenital craniofacial conditions as defined in EL(98)1 when they are:
- Complex
- Involve the base of the skull and
- Treatment will require, at an appropriate stage, combined craniofacial procedure as described above.
The service covers referral for assessment of all patients suspected of having one of the following diagnoses, and the treatment and associated follow up of all those in whom the condition is confirmed.
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- Acrocephalo-syndactyly syndromes
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- Craniosynostosis craniofacial dysostosis
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- Craniosynostosis craniofacial dysostosis
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- Unilateral coronal plagiocephaly
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- Bilateral coronal brachycephaly
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Please note that
(1) the scope of the Glasgow Craniofacial Surgery Unit and Alder Hey Children's Hospital includes the management of a range of subcranial syndromic (for example- CFM, TCS & etc) and
(2) that the scope of the Glasgow Craniofacial Surgery Unit includes nonsyndromic facial anomalies (Ankylosis).
Alder Hey Children's Hospital Eaton Road, West Derby, Liverpool L12 2AP UK
Consultants: Mr Aitor de Gea Rico, Miss Anusha Hennedige & Mr Christian Duncan
Contact details:
Natasha Gerard (Craniofacial Co-Ordinator)
Tel: +44 (0)151 282 4569
Jane England (Craniofacial Nurse)
Tel: 0151 282 4563
Luci Russell (Craniofacial Nurse)
Tel: 0151 282 4608
Birmingham Children's Hospital Department of Craniofacial Surgery, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH UK
Consultants: Mr Martin Evans, Miss Jaime Grant & Mr Jag Jagadeesan
Contact details:
Amy Drew (Craniofacial Nurse Specialist)
Tel: +44 (0) 121 333 8147
Fax: 0121 333 8151
Oxford Craniofacial Unit Level LG1, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington Oxford OX3 9DU UK
Consultants: Mr David Johnson, Mr Steven Wall, Mr Greg Thomas, Miss Rosie Ching & Mr Jonathan Jones
Contact details:
Craniofacial Unit: 01865 231 085
Kari Ashton
Tel: 01865 231 083
General Email
Useful links:
UK: The Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Europe: European Society of Craniofacial Surgery
International: International Society of Craniofacial Surgery