General surgery in Surrey

Our consultant dermatologists offer regular outpatient clinics and a range of specialist diagnostic services for digestive tract problems.

The Runnymede Hospital is in the historic town of Chertsey in Surrey. People come to us for dermatology treatment from all over Surrey, including Addlestone, Weybridge, Byfleet, and West Byfleet. We also welcome patients from further afield and even overseas.

Here, we take the time to understand the cause of your condition by getting to know you and your circumstances. It could be that your stomach issue has an obvious cause, such as appendicitis, but it could also be that you require further investigation into more complex symptoms that are more challenging to diagnose. Whatever your problem, our network of consultants will diagnose your condition and build your tailored treatment plan to suit your needs.

You can usually see a general surgeon for your initial consultation within 48 hours of booking your appointment with us.

During this initial appointment, your consultant will ask in detail about your general health and your medical history. They will want to know about any existing medical conditions, as well as the current symptoms you are experiencing. They'll ask you how these symptoms impact your everyday life, how often they occur, and whether you have had any treatment for them yet.

In order to assess your symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis of your concern, your consultant will next carry out a gentle, but thorough, physical examination of your tummy. In some cases, they might also send you to get an ultrasound scan, which will be done onsite by one of our radiographers. All of this helps your consultant to make a diagnosis of the cause of your pain.

Once they have identified what's causing your problems, they will share more information about the type of surgery that might help you.

Your initial consultation is an important and positive step in your journey towards improved health and wellbeing. It's where we start to get to know you as an individual and it's from the information we find out during this session that we will start building a treatment plan, bespoke to your needs. To make the most of the initial consultation, you should feel free to talk as openly and honestly as you like about the symptoms you're experiencing, the way they make you feel, and what you're hoping to get from surgery.

Your surgeon will give you a good idea of timelines during your initial consultation, after which they'll put together a fixed-price treatment package based on everything you have discussed together. Once you've agreed to the costs, we can get you booked in to have your surgery at a time that suits you.

Why might you need general surgery?

You might need to see a general surgeon if you have any of the following conditions:

Appendicitis

This happens when your appendix, a small thin pouch connected to your large intestine where poo forms, becomes swollen and painful. It typically begins with a pain in the middle of your tummy that may come and go, but within hours, it travels to the lower right-hand side of your tummy and becomes constant and severe. It can also cause diarrhoea and constipation.

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a lifelong condition that happens when parts of your digestive system become inflamed. It is one type of a condition called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Living with crohn's can be an immense challenge and source of anxiety. The condition can be managed with medication to reduce inflammation or surgery to remove part of your small intestine.

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition that happens when your colon (large intestine) and rectum (the end of your bowel) become inflamed. Small ulcers can develop on the lining of your colon and can bleed and produce pus. Other symptoms of ulcerative colitis include tummy pain and needing to empty your bowels frequently.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is a common condition that happens when acid from your stomach leaks into your oesophagus. It usually happens because the ring of muscle at the bottom of your oesophagus becomes weakened. The condition causes symptoms such as heartburn and an unpleasant taste in the back of your mouth. It can range from moderate to severe and can often be treated with medication. If your condition is severe, you might need surgery to treat it.

Haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are soft fleshy lumps just inside your back passage (anus). They bleed easily, usually causing fresh bright-red bleeding when a motion is passed. They do not usually cause pain but can be itchy. When large, they can pass through the anus (prolapsed pile), feeling like a lump when you clean yourself. Haemorrhoids develop gradually and are often associated with constipation.

Bowel polyps

Bowel polyps are small growths on the inner lining of your large intestine (colon) or rectum. They are common and often do not cause symptoms. If you have symptoms, you might experience a small amount of blood in your poor, diarrhoea, or constipation.

At Circle Health Group, we offer a variety of procedures for issues with your upper and lower GI tract conditions, including:

Gastroesophageal reflux surgery (anti-reflux surgery)

This procedure is typically called fundoplication. It aims to tighten your lower oesophageal sphincter (LES), which is a ring of muscle that forms a valve at the lower end of your oesophagus where it joins your stomach. The surgery treats GERD, which causes acid from your stomach to leak into your oesophagus.

Gallbladder removal surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy)

A laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves the surgical removal of your gall bladder, which is a small pouch in your upper right tummy that stores bile (a fluid produced to help break down fatty food). This is usually recommended when gallstones have formed and are causing health complications (such as abdominal pain). Gallstones are 'stones' that form in your gallbladder. They can cause severe abdominal pain.

Hernia repair surgery

There are several types of hernias and surgical techniques to repair them. A hernia is the protrusion of a piece of tissue or organ through another wall of tissue. It is often a part of your intestine pushing through the wall of muscle around your groin and lower abdominal cavity, or your stomach moving upwards through the hole in your diaphragm (hiatus). Hernia repair surgery is performed to carefully push the protrusion back into its original place and reduce the chance that it pushes through again.

Abscess incision and drainage

An abscess is a collection of pus surrounded by a wall of tissue. It causes a painful lump and become easily infected. As the amount of pus increases, the lump grows and causes pain. You can get an abscess anywhere in your body. We offer abscess incision and drainage services to drain the pub and remove it, preventing further growth and potential infection.

These are just some of the many general surgeries we offer at Circle Health Group. To find out more about services, you can call a friendly member of our advisory team on 0141 300 5009.

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Support by the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about general surgery at The Runnymede Hospital, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in September 2022. Next review due September 2025.