Martin Bailey qualified from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK in 1973. He trained in otolaryngology at the Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital and at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, and at the Sussex Throat & Ear Hospital in Brighton: he then undertook a TWJ Clinical and Research Fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, USA.

He was appointed to the Consultant Staff of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London in 1982, becoming Senior Consultant in the Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology before leaving his NHS post in 2009 to concentrate upon his independent practice in Harley Street and at the Portland Hospital. He was also Consultant Otolaryngologist at the Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital for 15 years (1982 - 1997), before relinquishing his adult practice there in order to focus entirely upon paediatric otolaryngology. He remains an Honorary Consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Child Health, as well as Honorary Consultant Otolaryngologist to St. Luke's Healthcare for the Clergy.

His practice encompasses all types of ear, nose and throat problems in children. He has special interests in the management of airway obstruction in children (including laryngotracheal reconstructive surgery), in cochlear implantation and other middle ear and mastoid surgery. His practice also includes the management of routine ENT conditions in children with other complex medical problems.

He has published and lectured widely on various aspects of paediatric otolaryngology, has been an Assistant Editor of the Journal of Laryngology & Otology since 1996, and joined the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology in 2004. He has been an Examiner for the Intercollegiate Specialty Board in Otolaryngology (2000 - 2005). He is Past-President of the British Association for Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology (2002 - 2004), and Past-President of the Section of Laryngology & Rhinology of the Royal Society of Medicine (2005 - 2006).

He is married with two children (grown up!), and now has one grandchild.