Mr Andrew Cottam is a Consultant Spinal Surgeon specialising in the assessment and treatment of spinal conditions at The Harbour Hospital in Poole.

He provides expert care for patients with back pain, neck pain and complex spinal disorders, offering both non-surgical treatments and advanced spinal surgery.

Mr Cottam believes in providing personalised care and takes time to understand each patient's symptoms, concerns and treatment goals. He works closely with physiotherapists, radiologists and pain specialists to ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatment for their condition.

Mr Cottam welcomes both self-pay and insured patients, and you do not need a GP referral to book an appointment.

Training and Experience

Mr Cottam has undertaken specialist spinal training at some of the world's leading spinal centres across the UK, Australia and the United States, giving him extensive experience in both adult and paediatric spinal surgery.

Mr Cottam grew up in Dorset and studied medicine at the University of Nottingham. He completed his early surgical training at Queens Medical Centre, including spending time at the prestigious Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery in Nottingham.

He later completed orthopaedic training across the Wessex region and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in 2017. In the same year, he received the prestigious Gauvain Research Prize.

His advanced fellowship training included both adult and paediatric spinal surgery at internationally recognised centres, including Westmead Children's Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.

Following his fellowship training, he was appointed consultant spinal surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London before returning to the South Coast.

Since 2021, Mr Cottam has been a consultant spinal surgeon at University Hospital Southampton, where he divides his practice between adult and paediatric spinal surgery. He also contributes to the regional spinal emergency service, caring for patients across the Wessex region with urgent spinal conditions.

Spinal conditions treated

Mr Cottam treats a wide range of spinal conditions, including:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Sciatica
• Slipped (prolapsed) discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Scoliosis
• Spinal deformity
• Spinal fractures
• Spinal tumours
• Spinal instability
• Spinal trauma

Patients are often referred when symptoms such as persistent pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in their neck, back, or spine are affecting their quality of life or are not improving. Following a thorough assessment, Mr Cottam will explain the cause of your symptoms and advise on the most appropriate next steps.

Spinal surgery and spinal non-surgical treatments in Poole

Treatment is always tailored to the individual patient. Mr Cottam will discuss the most appropriate options based on your diagnosis, symptoms and lifestyle.

Spinal treatments available at The Harbour Hospital in Poole include:

• Microdiscectomy
• Lumbar decompression surgery
• Spinal fusion
• Radiofrequency denervation (facet joint denervation)
• Specialist spinal assessment
• Spinal injections
• Pain management strategies
• Ongoing monitoring and conservative treatment 

Many of the spinal procedures can be performed using minimally invasive techniques. Minimally invasive spinal surgery uses specialised instruments and smaller incisions to reduce disruption to surrounding tissues, which may help reduce postoperative pain and support recovery for suitable patients.

Why choose Mr Cottam for your spinal treatment?

Mr Cottam combines international fellowship training with extensive experience treating both routine and highly complex spinal conditions. 

Many patients are referred to him with ongoing back pain, neck pain or sciatica and are concerned that surgery may be their only option. However, surgery is not always necessary. Mr Cottam takes a balanced approach to spinal care, exploring treatments such as physiotherapy, exercise programmes, spinal injections and pain management where appropriate. These treatments can often provide significant symptom relief and help patients avoid an operation.

When surgery is required, he focuses on achieving the best possible outcome using the least invasive approach suitable for the condition being treated. His aim is to help patients return to their everyday activities with improved function, reduced pain and greater confidence in their mobility.

Mr Cottam has extensive specialised experience in complex spinal deformity, trauma and tumour surgery.

His goal is to help patients understand their diagnosis, explore all available treatment options and make informed decisions about their care.

Outside of work

Mr Cottam lives in the New Forest with his wife and children. Away from the hospital, he enjoys golf, tennis, skiing and spending time on the water with his family.

Clinical interests

Mr Cottam has particular expertise in:

• Adult spinal degeneration
• Lumbar spine disorders
• Scoliosis in children and adults
• Spinal deformity surgery
• Paediatric spinal conditions
• Complex spinal reconstruction
• Spinal trauma
• Spinal tumours
• Minimally invasive spinal surgery

• British Association of Spinal Surgeons