General surgery in Blackburn

Your digestive system involves complex mechanics, and a number of concerning symptoms can arise when something goes wrong.

A full diagnosis is needed if you’ve been experiencing anything from pain in your abdomen, to changes in your bowel habits.

At our JAG accredited Endoscopy unit here at The Beardwood, our General Surgeons can provide you with that full diagnosis promptly, along with a bespoke treatment plan to give you relief from your symptoms, either through medication, minor surgery, or an operation.

Book a consultation and assessment with us today, and let us help you work towards freedom from your symptoms.

General surgery is a multi-faceted specialty, primarily focused on the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). This encompasses a wide range of organs and is broken down as follows:

• Upper GI
  • The gullet, looking at reflux and acid problems
• Lower GI
  • Large intestines, back passage problems relating to the anus and rectum
• HBP (Hepato Pancreato Biliary)
  • Dealing with problems of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder

Another aspect of General Surgery looks at hernias and lesions of the skin. These are usually straightforward to diagnose, as your consultant will be able to see a visible lump where the hernia is. Surface skin lesions can be referred to our colleagues in Dermatology, but if the lesion lies just under the skin, we can look at a simple excision to have it removed.

Symptoms relating to the GI tract can overlap, but the common aspects include:

• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Acid reflux
• Bloating and distension
• Blood in vomit
• Blood in your stool
• A change in bowel habits
• Yellow discolouration of skin (jaundice)
• Yellow discolouration in urine

These symptoms can indicate a number of conditions. Some of the common conditions your consultant will be looking out for include:

• Cancer (bowel, liver, bile duct, pancreatic)
• Crohn’s Disease
• IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease)
• Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
• Polyps (small fleshy raised areas)
• Gallstones
• Liver abscess
• GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

Establishing a diagnosis is the first vital step in treating your condition. At an initial consultation, your consultant will take a detailed medical history and will ask about the various symptoms you have been experiencing. They will want to know:

• What are your symptoms?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Have your symptoms become progressively worse?
• Does anything cause your symptoms to flare up?

When symptoms are present that could indicate various conditions, diagnosis normally involves an investigative Endoscopic procedure. Depending on whether your symptoms are primarily related to the upper or lower GI tract, this will most likely be either a Gastroscopy or a Colonoscopy.

Both of these procedures involve introducing an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera attached to the end) into your body to help your consultant look at the lining of your upper GI tract or bowel. The scope is introduced either down the back of your throat (Gastroscopy) or via the rectum (Colonoscopy), and you will be given a form of anaesthetic or sedation, depending on your needs.

Depending on symptoms and the findings of your endoscopic procedure, your consultant may take a biopsy (small sample of tissue) at the same time. This can either be an ‘excision biopsy’ where the concerning tissue is completely taken out and dealt with, or a small biopsy of the problem is taken and sent away to the laboratory for analysis. Once a full analysis has been made, your consultant can decide which specialist can best deal with it, informing your treatment plan.

For some issues, other diagnostic scans can be used in conjunction with Radiology, such as MRI, CT and ultrasound scans.

Once investigations have been completed, your consultant can draw up a personalised management plan for your condition. This could take the form of medication, which can be collected from our dedicated on-site pharmacy, minor operations, or a more involved surgery.

Minor procedures can often be done through the endoscope at the same time as your Gastroscopy/Colonoscopy, saving you the need for further surgery. For example, haemorrhoids discovered during a colonoscopy can be dealt with then and there, placing rubber bands around them to shrink them up.

When it comes to surgery, our aim is to deliver any surgical intervention as a day case procedure. With exceptional care offered round the clock from experienced consultants and an expert nursing team, your surgery will be handled efficiently in state-of-the-art operating theatres, fitted with the best possible equipment.

• JAG Accreditation – The Beardwood’s Endoscopy unit has achieved Joint Advisory Group (JAG) accreditation, providing quality assurance for all procedures carried out here. This national body assesses the endoscopy services delivered to patients from the start of their journey, through any necessary procedure, right through to their aftercare during recovery. With JAG accreditation as a seal of approval, you can be confident that the highest standard of care will be delivered.
• Assessments ASAP – Certain GI tract conditions respond best when diagnosed at the earliest opportunity. By seeing patients rapidly, our consultants can get you started on the right course of treatment as soon as possible.
• Patient Satisfaction – 98.1% of other patients in 2019 said they would happily recommend the Beardwood Hospital to friends and family in an independent report, and we’re confident that you’ll agree. 98.6% also said that the quality of care here at Beardwood Hospital was either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. We aim to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, and these results highlight our continued efforts to ensure this is achieved.
• Personalised care – We believe in a bespoke approach to treatment, tailoring each experience to our patients’ needs and whatever may be best for you.
• A Multidisciplinary Approach – Our teams at The Beardwood work in tandem with each other to provide you with the best possible care from start to finish. This is especially important in General Surgery, where we work closely with Dermatologists, Oncologists, Plastics, Gynaecologists, and more, as well as a dedicated team of radiographers, physiotherapists, anaesthetists, and nurses. From your initial consultation to the end of your treatment, you have support from medical professionals every step of the way.
• Convenient appointments – With appointments available between 8am and 8pm Monday-Sunday, you are sure to find an appointment slot that suits your needs and availability.
• Free Parking – We know that parking should be the least of your worries when attending hospital, so to make life easier our car park is free of charge. In order to validate your parking, all you need to do is register your details with us at reception when you arrive.

If you have a pre-existing gastrointestinal condition that needs managing, or you’ve experienced symptoms such as pain in your upper or lower abdomen, why not get in touch with our reception team today to book a consultation? Our consultants can organise the necessary diagnostic tests to investigate your symptoms, and outline all treatment options for you promptly, arranging any further scans or surgery if required.

For peace of mind and expert care, book an appointment online now.