The Chiltern Hospital
London Road, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, HP16 0EN DirectionsPhone
Opening hours
Inpatients: 24 hours
Day patients:
Mon - Sat 8am - 9pm
Sun - closed
Car parking
Yes - 218 spaces
Fast assessment and treatment for digestive system concerns
The fantastic diagnostic equipment available, coupled with our highly qualified team of consultant gastroenterologists, ensures a fast and accurate diagnosis of your condition, with no time wasted on waiting lists. Whether your consultation relates to a common condition, like IBS, or to something less common that may require full use of our state-of-the-art testing facilities, such as diseases of the pancreas, gallbladder or bile duct, you can rest assured that you are in the best hands to begin your recovery.
As we identify and treat your condition, you will enjoy a peaceful and pleasant experience at The Chiltern Hospital. Our outpatient facilities are modern and spacious, and patients who need endoscopy are offered a private room to recover. Alongside your speedy and complete recovery, we put your comfort and peace of mind at the forefront of everything we do during your time with us.
Common symptoms in this field include heartburn, difficulty swallowing, unexplained nausea and vomiting, indigestion, and unexplained rectal bleeding. When investigating these symptoms, Gastroenterologists will often request blood tests, such as a blood count or ESR/CRP test and faeces tests, to check for infection and disease.
A commonly required and more in-depth test is endoscopy. There are two kinds of endoscopy, a diagnostic test that uses a tiny camera to look inside the body, associated with Gastroenterology. A gastroscopy is used when the Consultant needs to look down the throat into the gullet and small intestine. A colonoscopy is used to look at the large intestine and rectum. Typically both procedures are performed under sedation, with general anaesthetic rarely required, though they can be carried out without any sedation if a patient wishes.
Gastroenterological conditions include ulcers in the stomach, oesophagus and intestines, IBS, IBD such as Crohn's disease, bile duct disease, coeliac disease, liver disease and colonic polyps. Many of these conditions, such as ulcers, can be treated with medication, while others are managed with a mixture of medication and lifestyle and dietary changes, for example, IBS and coeliac disease. Some conditions, such as liver disease, may lead to surgical intervention depending on their severity.
In cases involving gastrointestinal cancers, such as the stomach, bowel, and colon cancer, the gastroenterologist works closely with the oncology team and Consultant Surgeons to provide a complete cancer service.
During your initial consultation, your Consultant will lead a discussion about your medical history and your symptoms, taking into account any triggers they have and how long you have been experiencing them. This may include a conversation about your diet and how the food you eat affects your symptoms. If necessary, your Gastroenterologist will conduct a physical examination of any relevant area before deciding on the next step of your diagnosis.
A usual next step is for your Consultant to request a series of blood tests and scans, which will be arranged to fit your schedule within the following two weeks. Other tests they may request include faeces tests, which is as simple as dropping off a sample for testing, and endoscopies, which are investigative procedures carried out by specialist nurse practitioners within the department.
If your Consultant requires the use of our imaging facilities, our advanced MRI, ultrasound and CT scanners are available to provide detailed scans of your abdomen and GI tract.
Whatever the next stage of your diagnosis is, your Consultant will outline it to you clearly at the end of your initial consultation and answer any questions you have.
When the results of your tests are available, you will be invited in to speak with your Consultant about your diagnosis and the treatment options available to you. Depending on your condition, several non-surgical solutions are available for your recovery, such as medication for stomach ulcers and dietary management for coeliac disease. Gastroenterological treatment will often take a holistic approach, including an awareness of lifestyle and dietary impact on health.
While undertaking any test or procedure at The Chiltern Hospital, you will be treated with care and consideration by our exceptional team. Depending on the purpose of your visit, you may be treated in our JAG accredited endoscopy unit, one of our state-of-the-art operating theatres, or simply in the consultation room. You will always find our facilities and team to be of the very highest standard. If your Consultant advises you to undertake a procedure or surgery, you will be sent a fixed price quote in writing, with no further hidden costs.
On the day of your procedure, you will be checked into a private room for your recovery. Before you leave, our team will ensure you are happy, healthy and ready to go home, usually on the same day for endoscopy. You might require a night or more in the hospital if your Gastroenterologist has referred you to a Surgeon for an operation.