General surgery at St Edmunds

General surgery is an umbrella term to describe a plethora of surgical procedures that fall under a number of different medical subspecialties. It can range from surgery concerning your stomach health, such as bowel and gastrointestinal surgery, to surgical treatment for skin problems, and traumatic injuries.

General surgery is performed by specialists with a variety of skills and expert clinical knowledge. At St Edmunds Hospital in Suffolk, our Consultant General Surgeons are highly skilled in performing surgery across all relevant subspecialties. Our General Surgeons treat people from far and wide. People often travel from Thetford, Diss, Stowmarket, Newmarket and even as far as Ipswich and Cambridge.

To find out more about our General surgery services, you can call us on 01284 701371 or you can find the soonest available appointment online HERE. 

St Edmunds Hospital is located on the beautiful St. Mary's Square, just across from the Greene King Brewery in Bury St Edmunds.

We have parking on site and should patients need to have surgery and stay with us, they each have private rooms.

 

• Gallstone disease – the most common disorder affecting the biliary system, it can cause intense pain and discomfort in the abdomen, as well as vomiting, right shoulder pain, and flatulence.
• Abdominal wall hernias – patients who present with this condition may have mild pain, pressure or aching at the site of the hernia.
• Reflux disease – also known as GORD (Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), this condition can cause heartburn, bloating and belching, and acid reflux. 

 

Usually lasting around 30 minutes, consultations at St Edmunds Hospital aim to offer the best route forward for patients who are concerned about any symptoms they are experiencing.

Our Consultant General Surgeon will take a medical history and will ask you about the issue you are experiencing.

You will receive a general health screening, which may involve your Consultant asking you about your gut function and health (including details about how often and what you are eating and drinking), and your bowel function (including the regularity of your bowel movements).

You may also be asked about your weight and your tummy, and your back passage may be examined.

Patients may need one of the following tests, too:

• Sigmoidoscopy – an examination of the back passage (anus) using a rigid sigmoidoscope (a minimally invasive medical examination of the large intestine, via the rectum and through the nearest part of the colon)
• Proctoscopy –a medical procedure which is performed often within the general surgery clinic here. It involves an instrument known as a proctoscope, which is used to look at the anal cavity and lower rectum

After the patient has been examined, the investigations are based either on blood tests, radiology tests (x-ray, ultrasound and/or CT scans) or an endoscopy (an umbrella term for the various procedures where a camera is used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity within the body).

Our Consultant may therefore arrange any of the following:

• Blood tests
• X-rays
• An ultrasound
• A CT scan (arranged off site)
• An endoscopy
• A bowel biopsy.

Once the patient has undergone any necessary tests, they will return for a review of the results, where a diagnosis is made, and further treatment or advice is given. Treatment for certain conditions, for example, piles, can be administered in the out-patient clinic.

Most private patients are referred to The St Edmunds from their GP – and our Consultant here will have access to medical details in the referral letter. Most private hospitals don’t have direct access to other hospital records in the form of letters, but they usually have access to blood tests and X-rays.

There are several reasons why you might choose St Edmunds for your consultation. With 26 beds and all rooms offering the privacy and comfort of en-suite facilities, as well as TV and high-speed Wi-Fi and room service, you will feel right at home here.

Our department ensures you will receive the best of care before and after treatment. For surgery, there are three main theatres – one of which has been installed with laminar flow (clean air filter system) and one which is used for endoscopy and day case procedures.

Every specialist working at is a fully accredited consultant, which means the services they provide undergo a rigorous process of appraisal and recommendation. Infection control at St Edmunds is great, too – and you will be seen in a comfortable, clean, and modern environment, by a friendly and skilled Consultant.

You will have plenty of time to discuss concerns and worries and any examinations required will be as gentle and comfortable as possible. Patients will also be offered detailed patient information leaflets, which includes information on diagnosis and procedures.

St Edmunds is one of the first private centres to receive JAG accreditation for GI endoscopy services, which analyses a range of key performance indicators for endoscopy and focuses on the quality of the journey for the patient. This accreditation is reviewed annually, and all the results submitted to the National Endoscopy Database.

Here are some more reasons why you might choose St Edmunds for your consultation:

• Reduced waiting times – Patients who visit St Edmunds Hospital can, of course, benefit from a short to consultation or treatment.
• Flexible appointments at a time to suit you – You can choose an appointment time to suit you and your schedule. In some cases, remote consultations will be offered.
• Consultant-led appointments – Your appointment at St Edmunds will always be consultant-led, and you will see the same person each time you visit.
• Patient satisfaction and personalised care – In an independent survey* in 2020, 99% of our patients said they would recommend St Edmunds Hospital, and the hospital has a CQC overall rating of ‘Good’. *Results compiled by healthcare agency, Quality Health.