Personal profile
Dr Davies is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and General Physician, specialising in the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of digestive, liver and biliary disorders.
Common symptoms investigated include acid reflux, diarrhoea, blood in the stool constipation, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Common abnormalities in blood tests investigated include anaemia and abnormal liver function tests.
Common conditions managed include gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, duodenitis, non-ulcer dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
He has extensive research experience in the condition of Barrett’s oesophagus and management of the increased risk of oesophageal cancer that occurs with this condition.
Dr Davies has 8 years’ experience of working with Biolabs in London, who can undertake investigations unavailable routinely in the NHS, such as gut microbiome profiling, assessment for gut candida overgrowth, comprehensive stool analysis for pathogens, and tests for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Biolabs, unlike many similar services found on the internet, will only undertake such studies if requested by a GMC-recognised clinical specialist, ensuring tests are appropriate for presenting symptoms and that results have expert and bespoke interpretation.
Dr Davies offers an holistic approach to patients' problems, and works closely with a team of physicians, radiologists and dieticians in the Yorkshire Digestive Health Group to ensure optimal care. He was the Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist at Harrogate District Hospital and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds for 23 years; he retired from full-time practice in June 2019, but returned to the NHS in March 2020 to support Harrogate Trust with COVID-pandemic related pressures, and more recently to provide Harrogate District Hospital’s ERCP service (minimally-invasive bile and pancreatic duct endoscopic procedures). He has consulted at the Duchy Hospital in Harrogate continuously since 1996.
He qualified from Westminster Hospital, London in 1984 with MBBS and a first class Intercalated Degree. Post-graduate training followed in London and Leeds, including an attachment to St James’ Hospital’s Liver Transplant Unit, research into anti-inflammatory drugs and gut permeability for the award of MD (Postgraduate Doctorate Degree), then the award of a Yorkshire Cancer Research Grant to investigate stomach injury caused by H.pylori.
Dr Davies was appointed Consultant General Physician and Gastroenterologist at Harrogate District Hospital in 1996, He has remained active in clinical research throughout his career, being part of a UK group that have produced international guidelines on management of Barrett’s oesophagus. He is the Lead Local Investigator for several clinical trials, including the AspECT study into the prevention of cancer in Barrett’s oesophagus, published in the Lancet in 2018.
Dr Davies is married with 3 grown-up children, and enjoys challenges including cycling Lands End to John O’Groats, the Everest Base Camp Trek, and in October 2019, a Trans-Atlantic yacht race raising funds for UNICEF.
Senior Managerial Responsibilities and Achievements
- Clinical Director for Acute/Emergency Medicine, during which time the Clinic Assessment Team (CAT) service was established to optimise the initial assessment of acutely unwell patients .
- Joint Endoscopy Lead with Mr J Harrison: including leading 2 successful periods of re-accreditation with the UK’s national endoscopy regulatory body – JAG. The report from Harrogate Hospital’s 2019 JAG inspection described the Unit’s joint leadership model as ‘an exemplar’ example.
- Undergraduate Education Lead
- Examiner for MRCP (UK) PACES examination
- CQC inspector
- Expert reports produced for HM Coroner, Hull
