Gastroenterology
Contact number: Switchboard 01772 716565
Welcome to Gastroenterology
Our gastroenterology service is one of the busiest in the UK – we offer a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for all gastroenterological conditions, including cancer as we are the tertiary provider for Lancashire and South Cumbria.
We adopt a multidisciplinary team approach for many conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease and perhaps best demonstrated by our award winning nutrition team. The nutrition service spans all departments and manages complex nutritional issues, intestinal failure and home total parenteral nutrition.
- The Gastroenterology Service
We are the upper GI oesophago-gastric cancer centre for the region, as well as the accredited centre for bowel cancer screening. Colonoscopies are performed to detect and prevent cancer, and complex polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resections are undertaken. We have regular interventional lists for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and endoluminal stenting with the support of GI Radiologists. We also perform Endoscopic Ultrasound for the assessment and staging of upper GI tumours, and both benign and malignant hepatopancreatobiliary disease. Video capsule endoscopy is routinely performed for outpatients and also inpatients with intestinal bleeding. We have Joint Advisory Group accredited endoscopy units at both Chorley and Preston.
Open access endoscopy and direct to test fast track gastroscopy and colonoscopy services are well established. We provide a range of breath tests including for bacterial overgrowth, lactose intolerance and helicobacter pylori.
We manage a number of liver conditions including alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune liver conditions and viral hepatitis, offering the latest antiviral drugs to cure hepatitis C. We work with neighbouring hospitals to offer the most advanced treatments as part of a regional network.
We use fibroscanners in our clinics for non-invasive assessment of liver disease, which has reduced the need for biopsy. We work in partnership with liver transplants in Leeds and Birmingham.
We offer seven day endoscopy cover with dedicated inpatient lists at the weekend to care for patients with GI bleeding and other serious problems.
The multidisciplinary nutrition service manages intestinal failure and other complex nutritional problems in both primary and secondary care. Our central vascular access team supports the placement, management and removal of indwelling vascular access devices.
- Our Team
We manage a broad range of liver conditions including alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune liver conditions and viral hepatitis, offering the latest antiviral drugs to cure hepatitis C. We work closely with neighbouring NHS trusts and offer the most advanced treatments as part of a regional network. Fibroscanners are available in our clinics for the non-invasive assessment of liver disease and this has reduced the need for liver biopsy. We have close working relationships with the liver transplant centres in Leeds and Birmingham.
- Our Consultants
Consultants
Click on a consultant to see more information.
- Gastroenterology Leaflets
- Gastroenterology Careers
If you are interested in joining a world-class team, with world-class ambitions for gastroenterology, please get in touch, we look forward to hearing from you.
- Award-winning
We have a comprehensive, award-winning multidisciplinary nutrition service with a dedicated nutrition team to manage intestinal failure and other complex nutritional problems in primary and secondary care. We are fortunate to have a highly proactive Central Vascular Access Team for the placement, management and removal of indwelling vascular access devices. We look after patients with intestinal failure receiving home total parenteral nutrition and run a weekly multidisciplinary nutrition clinic.
There are JAG accredited endoscopy units at both Preston and Chorley hospital sites. JAG is the Joint Advisory Group, they regulate endoscopy units and ensure quality, safety and patient experience.
- 7 Days a Week
A wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures are performed allowing examination of the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. All our endoscopists are highly skilled to perform procedures comfortably, safely and with a high degree of proficiency. They are supported by an excellent team of dedicated endoscopy nurses and administrative staff to support our patients 7 days a week. Dedicated in-patient lists at the weekend provide access to those with GI bleeding or other serious problems requiring urgent specialist attention.
- Specialist Centre
Royal Preston Hospital is the Specialist centre for Upper GI Oesophago-gastric cancer treating people across the whole of Lancashire and South Cumbria. There is a large colorectal surgical service undertaking the full range of open and laparoscopic bowel surgery including pouch surgery with excellent enhanced recovery times.
The Gastroenterology Service has a well-established team of clinical nurse specialists specialising in:
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Viral Hepatitis
- Alcohol Liaison
- Nutrition nurses
Gastroenterology plays an active role in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. There is a large, state-of-the-art simulation training centre on site where we run endoscopy simulation training sessions for Specialist Trainees from the North West Deanery focussing on the management of gastrointestinal bleeding and the role of human factors.
An accredited site
We are an accredited site for Bowel Cancer Screening (BCS) and undertake BCS colonoscopy to remove polyps from the colon, help prevent bowel cancer and also detect asymptomatic cancers to improve outcomes. Complex polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) are supported by difficult polyp and colorectal multi disciplinary teams. We undertake Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to remove bile duct stones and stent pancreatic and bile duct cancers. This is supported by Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) for the assessment and staging of upper GI tumours and both benign and malignant hepatopancreatobiliary diseases. In addition Video Capsule Endoscopy (VCE) is routinely performed to investigate the small bowel and direct the need for deep enteroscopy.
Open Access endoscopy and Direct to Test (DTT) fast track gastroscopy & colonoscopy services are well established to support our primary care partners and streamline care pathways. A range of breath tests including for bacterial overgrowth, lactose intolerance and Helicobacter Pylori are provided and support the delivery of high quality care.
The Gastroenterology service receives excellent support from the pathology and radiology departments including 24/7 interventional radiology, and from the emergency surgical services based at the hospital.
