Digestive diseases

The Digestive Diseases Centre in Leicester is one of the largest clinical gastroenterology clinical and research centres in the UK. The centre is staffed by 12 gastroenterologists, 25 junior clinical staff, 20 endoscopy nurses, 30 clinical nurses and 15 administration support staff.

The clinicians provide a range of services for patients requiring oesophageal, gastric, intestinal, colonic and hepatic diseases. The gastroenterology clinics are held for a wide range of conditions including gastro oesophageal diseases, functional bowel disease, nutritional diseases, colitis, rectal bleed, hepatology and cancer surveillance clinics.  One of the most common procedures used is an endoscopy for the internal exploration of the stomach using a tiny telescopic camera. We also use a similar technique for examining the bowel called flexible sigmoidoscopy. We also use a longer telescopic camera called colonoscopy. 

The sites at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General and Glenfield Hospital have modern up to date equipment for carrying out all forms of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy.  We carry out in excess of 6000 endoscopic procedures a year.  In addition, University Hospitals of Leicester has one of the biggest surveillance programmes for premalignant lesion of the oesophagus called Barrett’s metaplasia. 

Links to useful websites:

British Society of Gastroenterology - professional organisation