Having gastrointestinal problems or a condition affecting your bowels can be very stressful. However, you can get a diagnosis and treatment for your gastrointestinal issues with the help of a gastroenterologist in London.
Urgent consultations, investigations, and treatment plans
Despite the recent reduction in GP consultations, urgent referrals haven’t ceased. It’s not uncommon for patients to have several symptoms associated with cancer, and a doctor may decide that further investigation is necessary. This is where an urgent referral comes in. If you are lucky enough to have a GP willing to take the time to look into your condition, they will likely refer you to a specialist. The following most common route is to go to an emergency department.
The best way to determine whether or not you have an urgent referral is to check your doctor’s email address. Some Trusts are now communicating by email only. It’s also a good idea to let your doctor know if you have any language barriers.
Bowel polyps
Having colon polyps can cause some people to experience changes in their bowel habits. They may also experience rectal bleeding. In addition, depending on the size of the polyps, they can cause symptoms such as abdominal cramping, diarrhea, or constipation.
The risk of bowel cancer is reduced when polyps are removed. However, they can grow back and become cancerous. For this reason, regular screening is recommended for those at risk of developing bowel cancer. Having a colonoscopy is one way of detecting polyps.
A colonoscopy is a procedure that uses a camera to look directly at the large intestine. It usually lasts around 20 minutes and is performed under a local anesthetic. It allows the doctor to find and remove any polyps.
Dr. Sean Preston is a specialist in colonoscopy and irritable bowel syndrome. He is also the director of endoscopy at Barts Health NHS Trust. He works with gastroenterologists, radiologists, dieticians, and surgeons to treat digestive disorders. He has a particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease.
Colonoscopies
Using data from Ontario’s physician networks, a study characterized colonoscopy resources in Ontario, Canada, in 2013. The study population included 10 943 884 adults who met the eligibility criteria. The study excluded those who were not assigned to a colonoscopy network. The study also evaluated the relationship between the density of network-level colonoscopists and colonoscopy utilization.
The study found that the density of colonoscopists in the network was positively correlated with age-standardized and sex-standardized colonoscopy utilization rates. In addition, there was a correlation between the length of travel distance and colonoscopy utilization rates. Specifically, individuals living at least 50 km from their colonoscopist had lower utilization rates.
Overall, the mean distance to the closest colonoscopy was 3.7 km. There was a small but statistically significant increase in the space to the nearest colonoscopy when individuals traveled more than 50 km. However, this did not appear to be a substantial factor in colonoscopy utilization.
Diagnosis of gastrointestinal conditions
Having a specialist diagnose and treat your digestive condition can make a massive difference in your life. Often, these conditions are poorly managed in general practice. Fortunately, experienced gastroenterologists are readily available in London. These professionals can be arranged to see you at a time that suits you. In addition to diagnosing and treating your gastrointestinal condition, they can also provide expert advice on diet and lifestyle and additional treatments that you may require.
To identify the best of those above, we had to do some investigating. We used a combination of literature, guidelines, and the results of focus groups. The results were distilled into eight or ten quality criteria. The study was a team effort and involved a wide range of participants. The main actors were a core multidisciplinary team from King’s College London, a large and diverse group of primary care doctors and their patients, and the three national patient organizations.