Mr James Wilkins

MBChB, FRACS

General and Oesophagogastric Surgeon
A man wearing glasses and a navy blue suit with a white shirt standing outdoors with green foliage in the background.

James Wilkins is a General and Oesophagogastric Surgeon providing comprehensive general surgical care to patients across Dunedin, Otago, and the lower South Island. He has broad experience in general surgery, with particular expertise in foregut, gallstone, hernia, and bariatric surgery, and a strong interest in minimally invasive and robotic techniques

Areas of Expertise

  • Oesophageal and gastric surgery (benign and malignant)

  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)

  • Hiatus hernia repair

  • Routine and complex gallstone disease

  • Hernia surgery

  • Bariatric surgery

  • Minimally invasive (keyhole) and robotic surgery

  • James was raised locally and graduated from the University of Otago. He completed his general surgical training throughout New Zealand before undertaking extensive post-fellowship subspecialty training in Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric, Hepatobiliary, and Minimally Invasive Oesophagogastric surgery in Dunedin, Auckland, and the United Kingdom.

    He returned to Dunedin with his family in 2024

  • Public Practice
    James is a Consultant General and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon with Te Whatu Ora Southern, working across:

    • Dunedin Hospital

    • Dunstan Hospital

    • Invercargill Hospital

    He performs both elective and acute general surgical work and maintains a strong focus on efficient, high-quality operative and peri-operative care.

    Private Practice
    James provides comprehensive elective general and oesophagogastric surgical care, with an emphasis on modern minimally invasive and robotic approaches where appropriate

  • James is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

    • Fellow, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Oesophagogastric Surgery – Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK (2023–2024)

    • Fellow, Oesophagogastric and Bariatric Surgery – Auckland Hospital (2022)

    • Fellow, Upper GI, Bariatric and Hepatobiliary Surgery – Dunedin Hospital (2021)

    • Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) (2021)

    • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery – University of Otago (2009

Approach to Care

James takes a clear, patient-centred approach to care, emphasising careful assessment, open discussion, and helping patients understand their options without unnecessary medical jargon. His clinical philosophy is practical and outcomes-focused: clearly define the problem, select the safest and most effective treatment, and deliver it well.