Born and educated in Belfast, Paul Wilson studied at Queen's University Belfast School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences before beginning his training at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. During this time, he treated patients affected by the Troubles at both the Royal Victoria Hospital and Craigavon General Hospital, Portadown.

He gained experience across various specialties, including Surgery, Orthopaedics, General Medicine (including a small Coronary Care unit) and Trauma, before moving to England for further training. After further posts, including at Alder Hey, a specialist Paediatric Hospital, and an SR post at Luton and Dunstable, he secured a Consultant A&E position at Cheltenham General Hospital. Prior to taking up this role, he spent a year at Sunnybrook Trauma Centre in Toronto, Canada.

In his later years, he worked in peripheral hospitals, managing a wide range of fractures locally, reducing the need for patients to attend District General Hospitals.