Gastroenterology
Welcome to the Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
We investigate and manage children with a variety of diseases and conditions, including:
Abdominal pain
Bowel polyps
Cholestasis (jaundice)
Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
Constipation
Cystic fibrosis
Diarrhoea
Failure to gain weight/growth
Feeding problems
Food allergy
Gastritis
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
Gastro-intestinal bleeding
Hepatitis
Intravenous nutrition
Irritable bowel syndrome
Oesophagitis
Pancreatitis
Short bowel syndrome
Preparation and follow up of liver transplantation
Small bowel transplantation
We are a multidisciplinary team currently comprising:
Four consultants and training grade doctors
Three SpRs (including a national grid trainee in gastroenterology)
Two SHOs/STs
One F1
Five clinical nurse specialists (CNS) gastroenterology, all with different skill mixes, three secretaries, two senior dieticians.
Dr Auth
Dr Dalzell
Dr Srinivasan
Dr El-matary
We provide services for children admitted to hospital (gastroenterology inpatient ward E3, daycase wards (K1, D2), and we treat children at the request of colleagues in other disciplines and in multidisciplinary outpatient clinics.
According to referral pathways, and at the discretion of the gastroenterology consultants, groups of patients are reviewed in specialised multidisciplinary clinics for:
Cystic fibrosis
Hirschsprung’s disease
Chronic hepatitis
Coeliac disease
Polyposis
Endocrinology
Surgery
and transitional clinics for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, liver and pancreatic disease.
Investigations and procedures performed by our department are:
Endoscopy (oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy (OGD) and colonoscopy)
Dilatation
Polyp removal
Insertion of gastrostomy (percutaneous gastrostomy (PEG) and button)
Liver biopsy
Imaging
Helicobacter pylori test
Hydrogen breath test
Manometry
Intravenous nutrition support at home
Oesophageal pH
Impedance monitoring
We work with a wide range of specialised paediatric services within our hospital, regionally and nationally.
Information for parents:
To assess your child’s needs promptly and efficiently we require referrals to be made by your General Practitioner (GP) using established referral pathways, providing us with detailed information of current problems and past medical history. Inter-consultant referrals are also possible.
Contacts for parents:
Please contact your GP or paediatrician who will decide the urgency of referral for your child. We will send letters to you with respective contact information.
We provide special nurse-led telephone access clinics for certain groups of children with chronic problems.
Contacts for health professionals:
Please use existing communication links. You may contact the on-service consultant secretary via the hospital switchboard.
Research:
Our department is active in clinical and experimental research. We are engaged in local and national ethically approved clinical research studies in the following areas:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Coeliac disease
Cystic fibrosis
Chronic hepatitis
Neither you nor your child are obliged to participate in research and our priority is to offer the best available treatment for every child.
Jobs:
Current job availability: Senior dietician
Application forms and job descriptions can be obtained from NHS Careers.
Opportunities for additional fixed-term posts (LAS, locum posts according to job specificatation) may occur at short notice. Please contact us if you want to be considered.
Applications of oversea applicants (Europe and worldwide) are welcomed and support is being offered to evaluate job qualifications.
Voluntary and charitable funding:
If you would like to donate to a charitable fund to support services for children provided by the department, for a disease support group, or for the hospital, please indicate your preference and contact us if you need further assistance.
Education and training:
Our team ethos is to provide training opportunities for all existing job specifications. This includes excellent training opportunities for doctors, dieticians, clinical nurse specialists and secretaries.
Self support groups:
(website in preparation)
www.coeliac.uk.org
PINNT
1/2PINNT
CICRA
Coeliac
NACC
BSPGHAN
ESPGHAN
CLDF
Last update: M Auth, 1 May 2009
