Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term mainly used to describe two conditions. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both long-term conditions caused by inflammation of the gut.
- Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon (large intestine)
- Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the bottom (anus).
Whilst there have been many advances in medical treatments for IBD, surgery is an important treatment option for many patients.
Expert care
The Newcastle IBD surgical team pride ourselves on providing a close multidisciplinary team. Patients in our service have access to high quality, nationally recognised expert care.
Our clinics offer IBD patients the opportunity to access multidisciplinary contributions from experts in gastroenterology, surgery, nutrition and stoma/pouch nurse support in a “one stop shop”. This seamless division between the various disciplines involved in the delicate management of IBD allows for tailored, personal and responsive care.
The IBD surgical service in Newcastle is a high volume centre, performing over 100 majors / IBD resections per year, a figure that is rising.
We have two dedicated IBD surgical consultants on the Royal Victoria Infirmary site and additional colorectal consultant expertise on the Freeman Hospital site.
Surgical options
Some IBD surgery treats strictures (narrowing of the intestines often due to scarring as a result of inflammation in the gut), as well as abscesses (collection of pus) and fistulas.
Resection surgery involves the removal of parts of the small and large intestines and joining the healthy ends of the intestines back together again.
In some cases, surgery can mean that a stoma is created through the stomach with bowel waste going into a bag or pouch.
The IB /pouch surgical service has one of the highest levels of laparoscopic surgery in the UK and offers a smooth transition from paediatric to adult services.
Our dedicated and experienced nurse practitioners run clinics that deal with a large volume of internal pouch patients and undertake counselling and complex stoma reviews.
The service provides specialist regional care for complex IBD patients from the North East and wider afield and interacts with advanced nutritional support and our Intestinal Failure service at the Freeman Hospital.
The unit also carries out high volume proctology practice in Crohn’s fistula and has an ongoing research active programme in IBD and surgery. The unit offers advanced training in IBD management and welcomes approaches from trainees or fellows. Find out more about the research we carry out at the Newcastle Bowel Disease Centre:
Newcastle Bowel Disease Centre ResearchThe multidisciplinary IBD team
Surgical team (RVI)
Miss Susan Gray (Unit administrator)
Surgical team (Freeman)
Mr Fintan Bergin
Specialist surgical nursing team
Gastroenterology team
Dr Chris Dipper
A team you can trust
Newcastle’s IBD surgical team have been commended by the STRIVE national programme, recognising quality after IBD surgery (as part of Getting It Right First Time programme) – one of few high performing IBD surgical units in the UK.
We were also finalists in the Royal College of Physicians Person Centred Care Awards 2020 with our wider multidisciplinary colleagues.
Contact
For more information email the team at IBDsurgeryNewcastle@nhs.net
