Gastroenterology

Services

Services

Coeliac disease
Specialist coeliac disease clinics are run by gastroenterologists with an interest in coeliac disease with full dietetics support.

Endoscopy
For more information about this service go to: www.swbh.nhs.uk/services/endoscopy/

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is provided by a team delivering a service based on the IBD standards with IBD clinical nurse specialists based at both City and Sandwell sites. We participate in the National IBD Audit, as well as both local and national research into IBD.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) clinics are run in City Hospital by Dr Lewis and at Sandwell Hospital by Dr Trudgill, with access to hypnotherapy.

Liver disease
All the gastroenterology consultants welcome referrals for liver disease and we have close links to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Liver Unit.

Viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C)
Specialist clinics for patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C are run by Dr Singhal in conjunction with a specialist nurse at City Hospital and Sandwell Hospital. Dr Singhal works closely with colleagues at the Liver Unit at University Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver state-of-the-art treatment of viral hepatitis.

Cancer
We work in several teams in the diagnosis of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Meetings are held weekly for colorectal, upper GI and hepatobiliary malignancy with specialist nurses and support for each. The gastroenterology team works closely with the upper GI surgeons at this trust and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for upper GI malignancy, and the liver physicians and hepatobiliary surgeons at the Queen Elizabeth Liver Unit to care for patients with pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer. We provide a number of services for patients with gastrointestinal cancer, including insertion of stents in the oesophagus, stomach/duodenum, biliary tract and colon. The gastroenterologists work closely with the oncology team, which reviews patients in clinics at both City and Sandwell hospitals. Where possible, patients will receive chemotherapy at our hospitals, but we have good links with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for certain types of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Oesophageal disorders
Oesophageal clinics are run by Dr Trudgill at Sandwell and Dr Anderson at City. Dr Trudgill and Dr Anderson have a special interest in Barrett’s oesophagus and run dedicated screening endoscopy lists with trimodal imaging and specialist clinics. Research projects are ongoing with a nurse-led Barrett’s clinic at Sandwell Hospital.

GI Physiology Department
The GI Physiology service is run at Sandwell General Hospital by John Hayman, Clinical Scientist in GI Physiology. The service performs a range of diagnostic tests covering the gastrointestinal system including: High Resolution Oesophageal Manometry, ambulatory pH with Impedance studies, wireless pH monitoring and breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, lactose intolerance and fructose intolerance.

Anorectal disorders
Miss Kathryn Gill is a consultant colorectal surgeon with an interest in pelvic floor disorders such as faecal incontinence. A range of services, including physiology (manometry, endoanal ultrasound) is available at Sandwell General Hospital. Julie Wheatley, Nurse Practitioner in GI Physiology, performs anorectal physiology, endoanal ultrasound and whole pelvic floor scanning and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. Kelly Stackhouse, Functional Nurse Specialist, provides treatment for functional bowel and pelvic floor disorders.

Services include:

• Support Education and dietary advice
• Pelvic floor exercises (including correct defaecatory dynamics)
• Medication
• Biofeedback (including sensory retraining)
• Neuromodulation
• Irrigation

Nutrition
Nutrition teams work on both sites providing a full range of nutritional support.

Obesity
Management of obesity is via dietetics departments in primary care.

Patient Information

Abdominal Drain Procedure (Paracentesis) (ML6473)
Abdominal perineal resection (APR) ML6103
Having a fibroscan
Anterior resection ML6121
Hartmans procedure ML7101
Sigmoid Colectomy ML6089
Left Hemicolectomy ML6097
Right Hemicolectomy ML6095
Enhanced Recovery After Colorectal Surgery (ERAS) ML5928
Having a gastropexy feeding tube
96 Hour Wireless pH Study
Having a PEG feeding tube
Liver Biopsy
Managing your diabetes when taking laxative bowel preparation ML6997
Preparing for a gastroscopy when you have diabetes
Advice following a gastroscopy with sedation
Hydrogen Breath Tests(early morning appointment)
Hydrogen Breath test (mid-morning appointment)
High Resolution Oesophageal Manometry and 24 hour pH Impedance Monitoring ML6156
Having EBUS-TBNA ML5979PLENVU Laxative instructions – morning appointment ML7308
PLENVU Laxative instructions – afternoon appointment ML7362

GI Physiology

High Resolution Anorectal Manometry, Endo-anal Ultrasound, Pelvic Floor Ultrasound and Vaginal Ultrasound (ML6560)
Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (ML6157)
96 Hour Wireless pH Study ML5784
Cytosponge Test ML6858

Useful websites

General gastroenterology
British Society of Gastroenterology
CORE

Irritable bowel syndrome
The Gut Trust

Liver diseases
British Liver Trust
Department of Health – hepatitis C

Contacts

Elective Access (please ring with queries about your outpatient appointment (new or follow-up): 0121 507 4151
Gastroenterology Secretaries: ‪0121 507 6134