Warren Chapman, Nurse Consultant Endoscopist

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust > Warren Chapman, Nurse Consultant Endoscopist

HE’S THE ONE you see when your doctor sends you to hospital for tests to diagnose your stomach problems. Clinical lead for Endoscopy at City Hospital, Warren Chapman has been working for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust for the last 30 years.

Birmingham born and bred, father-of-three Warren sees over 50 patients a week, carrying out endoscopy and colonoscopy investigations (inserting tubes with a camera on the end into the stomach or bowel). He explained: “These tests are a vital tool in the early diagnosis of cancer, leading to improved survival rates for patients.

“Happily many patients are diagnosed with much less serious problems, but for the ones with potentially life threatening conditions, the tests are an essential first step.”

Warren (47) has been involved in endoscopy for the last 20 and was amongst the first nurses to carry out this role in the NHS, as it was traditionally carried out by doctors.

A prolific writer, three years ago Warren was invited to sit on the editorial board of the respected medical publication ‘The Gastrointestinal Nursing Journal’ contributing and reviewing articles for the nursing profession. He is also an inspector for a national body responsible for assessing endoscopy units across the UK, to ensure they are working to the highest standards and crediting them to train endoscopists and take part in the national bowel screening programme.

A talented musician, Warren spends his downtime playing bass guitar in local band ‘Rudie and the Revolvers’. The band play covers of Ska (early reggae) and soul hits. Warren’s wife is from the Philippines, so it was natural for him to want to help after Typhoon Haiyan tore through the central Philippines last November. Rudie and the Revolvers raised £2,500 in support the appeal for aid.

He said: “It was an emotional event, but the reception we received was testament to the willingness of our local communities to pull together to help people that were suffering after this dreadful natural disaster.”