Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery

The Upper Gastrointestinal Unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital has five consultant surgeons who provide a comprehensive specialist service for upper gastrointestinal and laparoscopic surgery.

We provide specialist treatment for all areas of benign upper GI disease, including gallbladder surgery, anti-reflux surgery, hiatus hernia surgery and abdominal wall hernia surgery– all of which are performed by laparoscopic (keyhole) techniques.

In 2007 we set up a Weight Loss Surgery service, and now provide all forms of weight loss surgery including laparoscopic gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric balloons for NHS patients with CCG funding.

We also provide diagnostic services for patients with oesophageal and gastric cancers. We act as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide cancer patients with integrated treatment for their malignancy, and work closely with the specialist Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Unit in Oxford where major cancer resections are undertaken.

Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are available to patients around the time of oesophageal or gastric surgery.

We work closely with our Upper GI cancer nurse specialists to allow high levels of patient support at the time of diagnosis and ongoing support during treatment.

We have a well-established GI Physiology department run by two specialist GI physiology practitioners providing state of the art diagnostic investigations for patients with benign oesophageal and reflux-related disorders.

Clinics

• Weekly Upper GI clinics at the Royal Berkshire Hospital
• Regular outreach clinics for new and follow-up patients at West Berkshire Community. Hospital, Townlands Hospital (Henley-on-Thames) and Wallingford Community Hospital.
• Nurse-led follow-up for weight loss surgery patients.