Vanessa consult for all gastrointestinal and hepatological (liver) conditions.

Common symptoms include reflux or indigestion, difficulty swallowing, nausea, abdominal pain and bloating. Bowel symptoms include bleeding, constipation or diarrhoea. Discussion regarding screening options for bowel cancer include assessment of family history and lifestyle factors.

Initial consultation involves a thorough review of the concerns and symptoms of the patient. There is a detailed review of lifestyle factors including diet, stress levels and exercise patterns. A plan for management and  investigation is formulated with the patient’s needs in mind.

The patient’s GP has often previously arranged less involved screening tests and some treatments will have been tried. It is important to bring any previous scans and blood test results to the initial appointment. Further investigation with Vanessa would often involve gastroscopy or colonoscopy but could include CT scan, ultrasound and more specialised blood tests.