We treat the full range of gastrointestinal disorders. These include ulcer disease, irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, liver diseases including hepatitis C, nutritional disorders and many common cancers.

Inpatient gastroenterological services are provided on Ward 17 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital while outpatient services are provided from Amersham, Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe hospitals.

Endoscopy is integral to gastroenterology services and there are excellent endoscopy units at both Wycombe and Stoke Mandeville hospitals. These units provide upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopic investigations, and ERCP. Direct access endoscopy is available to GPs.

There is a close working relationship between gastroenterologists and dedicated gastrointestinal surgeons, radiologists and histopathologists within the Trust. Additionally, there are close links with specialist surgeons at Oxford so that patients requiring more specialised treatment are treated promptly and by the most appropriate doctors.

Endoscopy:

The endoscopy units at Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe hospitals perform more than 10,000 endoscopic procedures per year. These internal investigations of the stomach and bowel allow accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders and are mostly outpatient day-case procedures. Both endoscopy units are staffed by highly qualified and dedicated people. In addition to diagnostic investigation, therapeutic endoscopic procedures routinely done include removal of bowel polyps, dilatations of oesophageal strictures, insertion of feeding tubes, insertion of stents and relieving jaundice by removing gallstones or stenting pancreatic tumours.

Outpatients: 

Gastroenterology clinics at Amersham, Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe hospitals see patients with the full range of gastrointestinal complaints. Patients are seen by a gastroenterology consultant (or one of the team) and specific investigation/ treatment initiated.

Inpatients: 

Our gastroenterology ward for inpatients is ward 17 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Click here to find out more about ward 17.
Discharge planning A specialist team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists work together with the ward discharge co-ordinator and ward doctors and nurses to facilitate the discharge of patients with complex needs.

Cancer services: 

All patients with cancers involving the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver or colon are discussed at multi disciplinary team meetings so that the best available treatments can be offered to our patients.

Hepatitis C treatment: 

Patients with hepatitis C are assessed and treated with antiviral drugs at a dedicated weekly clinic at Amersham Hospital.

Nutrition:

Malnutrition frequently accompanies gastrointestinal disease, and there are close ties with dietician services in the Trust.  A dedicated consultant-led multidisciplinary team manages nutritional problems (including intravenous nutrition) in hospital inpatients.