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:
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 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 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, 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.