What we do

The gastroenterology unit is based at Bradford Royal Infirmary, where we offer a range of specialist services, including endoscopic procedures, management of stomach, biliary, pancreas and liver diseases, bowel cancer screening (through the bowel cancer screening programme) and the provision of immediate emergency care for people with gastrointestinal bleeding.

Our aim is to provide excellent and accessible services for the population of Bradford that are both efficient and innovative. In order to deliver this aim we have a Jag accredited, six-room endoscopy unit and separate x-ray room for procedures that require radiology support. We also have a dedicated gastroenterology ward and adjacent outpatient department.

Our unit is staffed by dedicated nurses and health care assistants, trained in the management of gastroenterological disorders led by an experienced Matron. There are 10 consultant gastroenterologists with a range of specialist interests, supported by a team of junior doctors. Alongside the consultant staff we have a number of specialist nurses working in services such as viral hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, nutrition, gastrointestinal cancer and endoscopy.

Specialist services

Endoscopy

In our recently upgraded and Joint Advisory Group (JAG) accredited endoscopy unit, we perform over 10,000 procedures per year. Many of these are diagnostic gastroscopy and colonoscopy procedures. We are also able to offer specialist diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, such as:

  • Bowel cancer screening
  • Video capsule enteroscopy (VCE)
  • Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), including digital cholangioscopy (‘SpyGlass’ technology)
  • Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
  • Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
  • Endoscopic resection/management of large and complex polyps
  • Endoscopic resection/management of early oesophageal and gastric cancers
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
  • Barrett’s oesophagus surveillance
  • Oesophageal dilatation
  • The placement of enteral stents
  • The placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes

Please follow the link to the ‘Endoscopy’ webpage, which contains more information about procedures, some FAQs and useful contacts.

Cancer services

We aim to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal cancers within the 62-day target, and work closely with our local and regional surgeons, radiologists and oncologists as part of a multi-disciplinary team in order to achieve this goal.

We are part of regional cancer networks for upper and lower gastrointestinal cancers, as well as cancers affecting the liver and pancreas. We are fortunate to have an excellent and supportive team of cancer nurse specialists (CNS) who are available to help guide patients through this difficult period and beyond. Referral into the cancer services is often via the ‘two-week wait’ pathway, due to worrisome symptoms, but can be through the regional network for specific diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

We are also part of the Bradford and Airedale Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, and are in the process of rolling out the ‘Bowel Scope’ screening programme. Enrolment in the screening programmes is by invitation. If you think you are eligible but have not been invited to take part in the bowel cancer screening programme, please contact your GP practice. For further information, please see the ‘How to find us’ section.

Liver disease (Hepatology)

The liver team consists of the following members:

  • Two consultants
  • Four viral hepatitis specialist nurses
  • Two alcohol specialist nurses
  • Two research nurses
  • One research assistant
  • One alcohol support worker
  • One dietician
  • Two secretaries

We provide secondary care liver services for a catchment population of 500,000 people. Our services include inpatient and outpatient management of acute and chronic liver diseases. We offer specialist services for the following:

  • Alcohol-related liver disease
  • Treatment of viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B and C). We are the second largest hepatitis C treatment centre in West Yorkshire and treat around 150 patients with hepatitis C every year. We support hepatitis C treatment in the community drug addiction centre and at Bevan House.
  • Non-alcohol related fatty liver disease
  • Treatment of rarer liver diseases such as primary biliary cholangitis, hereditary haemochromatosis and autoimmune hepatitis
  • ‘Fibroscan’ service to measure the amount of scarring in the liver without the need for a liver biopsy
  • Liver-related dietary services
  • Surveillance for liver cancer
  • Day-case paracentesis and venesection
  • Specialist endoscopy services for liver-related work – screening, banding and gluing of oesophageal and gastric varices.

We work closely with the Liver Unit at the Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust for patients who have more complex liver disease and for patients who need assessment for liver transplantation.

Referral into the hepatology service can be made via the NHS e-referral system (formally choose and book).

Please see the ‘Who we are’ and ‘How to find us’ sections for useful contacts.

Clinical research

The luminal gastroenterology research team consists of two gastroenterology research nurses who work alongside the medical team. We offer our patients many and various opportunities to become involved with cutting edge gastroenterology research.

We are the largest liver research centre in West Yorkshire, and have contributed to several landmark multi-centre studies in hepatitis B and C, primary biliary cholangitis and alcohol-induced hepatitis. We are the only team to have run a phase I, first human study in Bradford. We have presented our work to national and international conferences.

For further information please view the Bradford Institute for Health Research site.

Interested in joining our team?

Our talented and compassionate staff care for a diverse population, which is what makes Bradford such a special place to work. Choosing the right people is key to our success. If you think you’ve got what it takes, please contact us by email at careers@bthft.nhs.uk to discover more about our latest opportunities.

Who we are

Getting here and contact details

For enquiries regarding appointments please contact: (01274) 274274.

For enquiries regarding procedures please contact: (01274) 364627.

How to find us
The gastroenterology unit is located on level 2 and 3 in the Duke of York building at Bradford Royal Infirmary. On arrival, please report to endoscopy reception on level 2 for endoscopic procedures and outpatient reception on level 3 for outpatient clinic appointments.

Accessibility

Please see the AccessAble pages on Gastroenterology at Bradford Royal Infirmary and accessible parking. Information on general car parking at the hospital.

AccessAble logo

Luminal gastroenterology

The main bulk of our work in gastroenterology is in managing disorders of the large and small bowel, oesophagus, and stomach, . They include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and oesophageal disorders, such as reflux disease and Barrett’s oesophagus.

Our team consists of:

  • Eight consultants
  • Two inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) specialist nurses
  • One biological therapy specialist nurse
  • Two coeliac disease specialist nurses
  • Two research nurses
  • Secretarial support

Many patients will be seen, at least initially, in our general gastroenterology clinics. Our specialist nurses run a specialist coeliac disease follow-up clinic with both face-to-face and telephone consultations.

Our specialist inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) service is led by two consultant gastroenterologists and supported by three specialist nurses and a secretary. This service works in close relationship with our colorectal surgical team and gastrointestinal radiologists, thanks to a regular multi-disciplinary team meeting.

The team sees patients through the transition from paediatric services to adult services with an adolescent transition clinic. They offer ongoing support to patients with IBD through a helpline service. They are able to offer treatment for IBD using both established and novel medical therapies, as well as offer the opportunity for patients to be involved in therapeutic clinical trials.

Referral into the luminal gastroenterology service can be made via the NHS e-referral system (formally choose and book). Referrals are directed internally into the IBD service when screened, or once initial diagnostics have been performed.

Please see the ‘Who we are’ and ‘How to find us’ sections for useful contacts.

Nutrition services

The nutrition team at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is led by two consultants with the support of two specialist nurses, a dietician and a pharmacist.

In the outpatient setting, they are well placed to monitor and offer nutritional support to patients with a range of primary and secondary causes of malnutrition. For hospital inpatients, they are vital for the initiation and monitoring of both enteral (i.e. nutrition given directly into the bowel, for example via a naso-gastric feeding tube) and parenteral (i.e. intravenous) nutritional support.

The team works closely with other specialities throughout the hospital, in particular the stroke and neurology department, in assessing patients for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement – a route for artificial feeding.

Referral into the nutrition service is usually made internally, but we are happy to accept referral from the community via the NHS e-referral (formally choose and book) system.

For further information and useful contacts (including the contact number for the nutrition nurse team), please see the ‘How to find us’ section.

Information leaflets for patients

Useful links