MB BCh (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff)

BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, (Bachelor of Science (Honours)(Biochemistry))

ARCS (Associateship of the Royal College of Science)

FRCA (Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists)

FANZCA (Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists)

CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training, UK)

MSc (Dist.) Perioperative Medicine (Master of Science (Distinction) (Perioperative Medicine), University College London)

EDRA (European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia)

GCertClinUS (Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound, University of Melbourne)

GChPOM (Graduate of the ANZCA Chapter of Perioperative Medicine)

Dr Elystan Hughes completed specialist training in anaesthesia within the UK national training programme in the West Midlands, gaining broad experience across tertiary centres including Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. During this time, he developed expertise in all major areas of anaesthesia including paediatric, Vascular, Neurological, Gastrointestinal, Thoracic, Obstetric Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine. He undertook further fellowship training at Royal Perth Hospital with a focus on regional anaesthesia and research. His postgraduate education also includes advanced qualifications in perioperative medicine and clinical ultrasound, reflecting a strong interest in perioperative optimisation and modern anaesthetic practice.

Dr Hughes currently works as a Specialist Medical Officer at Sunshine Coast University Hospital and holds Visiting Medical Officer appointments at private hospitals across the region. Prior to relocating to the Sunshine Coast, he worked in the Northern Territory as a Consultant Anaesthetist and as a Medical Retrieval Consultant with CareFlight, delivering aeromedical retrieval and critical care transport across remote Australia. He has worked as a Consultant Anaesthetist in positions across regional Australia, as well as international work with Médecins Sans Frontières in Afghanistan providing trauma anaesthesia in a humanitarian setting. 

Dr Hughes’ clinical practice encompasses the full spectrum of adult anaesthesia including Major Abdominal, Orthopaedic, Obstetric, Trauma and Vascular Surgery. His professional interests include Perioperative Medicine, Regional Anaesthesia, Vascular Anaesthesia, Trauma Anaesthesia and Perioperative Risk Stratification for high-risk surgical patients. He has a strong interest in quality improvement, research and education, and has contributed to clinical trials and audit programmes aimed at improving perioperative outcomes.

Outside medicine Dr Hughes enjoys endurance sports and martial arts and is a finisher of the Marathon des Sables. He practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a PADI Advanced Open Water diver and has travelled extensively across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.