The Ridgeway Hospital
Moormead Road, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 9DD DirectionsPhone
Opening hours
8am until 8pm
Due to COVID restrictions no visitors are currently allowed
Car parking
Yes - 122 spaces
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General surgery is a wide-ranging area of medicine focusing on many parts of the body, but with special interest in the abdomen area and vascular procedures
General surgeons have experience with a wide range of issues, particularly related to the abdomen and gastrointestinal tract.
A number of concerning symptoms can arise when something goes wrong in your digestive system, and you’ll understandably want answers fast. A full diagnosis is needed if you’ve been experiencing anything from pain in your abdomen, to changes in your bowel habits, making our quick-access appointments of huge benefit to our patients at The Ridgeway Hospital.
Some of the other aspects of General Surgery we see commonly at Ridgeway include:
Hernias can occur when the internal tissue pushes through a weakness in the muscle wall. Apart from noticing the lump or swelling, you may have no further symptoms.
If you have a hernia, you will see one of our general surgeons for advice and treatment, which may include an operation to fix it.
Our general surgeons specialise in all types of hernia, including:
General surgery also deals with issues with 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. Dealing with problems of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder (e.g. gallstones)
Lower GI
Large intestines, and problems relating to the bowel, anus, and rectum (e.g. bowel cancer, prolapse, fissures, and haemorrhoids)
You should consider booking an appointment with us if you have any of the following symptoms:
Your consultant can advise on any lifestyle factors that may improve your condition or help prevent reoccurrences in the future, such as weight loss, exercise adjustment, or a change in toiletry habits.
Some hernias may cause no issue, so no further treatment may be advised. Certain types of hernia require surgery, especially as they can worsen and get bigger over time. An open hernia repair may be considered, allowing your surgeon to push the tissue back into place and mend the abdominal wall. Occasionally, this surgery can be done laparoscopically, using a thin tube with a camera and light on the end, through a small incision.
If you have been advised to have regular checks, such as a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy every few years, these can be offered in a timely fashion. Your consultant can then discuss the results in detail with you, explaining any further treatment or surgeries if appropriate.
Haemorrhoids can be treated in a number of ways, such as:
Whatever your condition, our Consultants have extensive experience dealing with the entire spectrum of General Surgery concerns, offering exemplary care to patients based in Swindon, Hungerford, Reading, Cirencester, Gloucester, and even further afield.
This will be followed by a physical examination, where your consultant will wish to assess your abdomen, especially for suspected hernias or when you present with abdominal pain.
When symptoms are present that could indicate a number of conditions, diagnosis normally involves an investigative test or 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 (down the gullet) or a Colonoscopy (to assess the lower bowel, via the rectum). These can be booked for a later date, as they require some preparation, such as a course of laxatives to clear the bowel beforehand.
A proctoscope can be used to assess the rectum or anus if you are having back passage issues, such as haemorrhoids, as this can be done in the clinic at the time of your initial consultation.
These investigative procedures allow your consultant to plan the next steps forward, and at a follow-up appointment they can explain your diagnosis alongside outlining all your treatment options.
Unless you have a condition that absolutely needs definitive surgery, you will be given choices on how you wish to proceed, and your consultant can set expectations for recovery, allowing you to make an informed decision. This collaborative approach ensures that you the patient are always in full control of your healthcare.
Consultant Breast and Oncoplastic Surgeon
MBBS, FRCS (Gen Surg)
The Ridgeway Hospital
Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon
MBBS MD FRCS
The Ridgeway Hospital
Consultant General Surgeon
MBBS, BSC, MS, FRCS
The Ridgeway Hospital
Consultant General Surgeon
BSc(Hons), B.M, FRCS(Eng), FRCS(Gen Surg)
The Ridgeway Hospital
Consultant General Surgeon
MB ChB, FRCS
The Ridgeway Hospital