The Gastroenterology department at Royal Wolverhampton Trust offers specialist care across a range of conditions, including Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, and liver disease. Our Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) service provides patient-centred care through a multidisciplinary team of 6 gastroenterologists, 6 IBD nurses, surgeons, dietitians, and pharmacists, offering support from diagnosis to long-term management.
Patients have access to advanced diagnostic investigations such as endoscopy and radiology services, wireless capsule endoscopy (including small bowel, colon and panenteric) and intestinal ultrasound. Patients are reviewed through dedicated outpatient clinics, which include both face-to-face and telephone consultations, enabling ongoing monitoring and rapid assessment of disease activity. The IBD nurse specialists provide patient education, medication monitoring, and rapid access advice for patients experiencing disease flares or treatment-related concerns. A dedicated IBD telephone advice line allows patients to contact the team directly for guidance and support between appointments. We have also initiated the use of the MyIBD App, a digital mobile app that allows patients to stay connected easier to the IBD team. Through this app, patients are able to message our specialist nurses regarding flares, appointment queries and medication requests. The IBD team is actively involved in research with the opportunity for patients to participate in numerous ongoing clinical trials.
Our Liver Service is IQILS level 2 accredited and provides specialised care for patients with a wide range of liver conditions, including acute hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and other chronic liver disorders. The service is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of 5 consultant hepatologists, 4 specialist nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists, ensuring comprehensive assessment, treatment, and ongoing monitoring.
Patients have access to advanced diagnostic investigations such as liver ultrasound, elastography (FibroScan) and endoscopy, allowing early detection and management of liver complications. The team works closely with surgical, radiology, and transplant services when needed, providing seamless care across the patient pathway. Patients are reviewed through dedicated outpatient clinics, which include both face-to-face and telephone consultations, including hot liver clinics for recently discharged patients, enabling ongoing monitoring and rapid assessment of disease activity. Emphasis is placed on patient education, lifestyle advice, and coordinated care with our local community teams to improve outcomes and quality of life for those living with liver disease. The liver team is actively involved in research with the opportunity for patients to participate in numerous ongoing clinical trials.
As a nationally recognised service accredited by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on GI Endoscopy, we remain at the forefront of innovation and was the first centre in England to deliver the Bowel Cancer Screening service.
The Royal Wolverhampton Trust offers a full range of advanced endoscopy procedures across a 4-room endoscopy unit at New Cross Hospital and a newly developed, state-of-the-art 4-room Endoscopy unit at Cannock Chase Hospital. This includes ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) and EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound) for detailed assessment and treatment of pancreatic and biliary disorders. The service also provides innovative therapies such as HALO ablation for Barrett’s oesophagus and SpyGlass cholangioscopy for direct visualisation and intervention within the bile ducts. All procedures are performed by highly experienced specialists, ensuring the highest standards of safety, precision, and patient care are met.
The department also hosts the Midlands Endoscopy Training Academy (META), dedicated to delivering high-quality education and hands-on training in gastrointestinal endoscopy for healthcare professionals. The academy offers a wide range of JAG-accredited courses, including mandatory training for trainees beginning endoscopy as well as advanced courses designed to develop specialist skills. In addition to supporting trainee doctors, the academy also provides training opportunities for nurse endoscopists, allied health professionals, and the wider multidisciplinary endoscopy workforce. By promoting best practice, standardisation of training, and continuous professional development, the Midlands Endoscopy Training Academy plays a key role in improving the quality and safety of endoscopy services across the region.
