Home Page

The colorectal unit is part of the large multidisciplinary Gastro Intestinal (GI) Directorate at Derriford Hospital. The consultant colorectal (bowel) surgeons work closely with our upper GI surgeons and gastroenterologists to provide a comprehensive service for all conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, they are supported by specialist nursing expertise. All the surgeons are fully trained general surgeons but have further specialist training to deal with the highly specialised surgical conditions affecting the abdomen and its organs.

The colorectal unit provides the following services: 

• Outpatient clinics in Derriford, Launceston, Liskeard, Saltash, Tavistock and Kingsbridge
• At Derriford Hospital: 
  “One stop” assessment clinics for bowel symptoms  
  Endoscopy (telescope examination of the bowel)
  Elective (routine) inpatient care
  Elective (routine) daycase care in Plym and Freedom daycase units
  Emergency inpatient care on the surgical assessment unit
  Medical and Surgical management of lower Gastro Intestinal disease and Trauma.
  Bowel screening programme for lower GI Cancer. Derriford Hospital is a satellite bowel cancer screening service, the main centre being Torbay Hospital.
  Advice and continuing support for patients following diagnosis of lower GI disease.
• Community and inpatients stoma care services.

Derriford Hospital is an accredited centre for colorectal cancer (bowel), and all  the bowel surgeons have wide ranging skills in all aspects of bowel problems. This expertise allows us to specialise in laparoscpic surgery (keyhole surgery), Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (procedure to remove usually benign bowel growth by minor operation through the anus) and surgery for incontinence and prolapse. However all the surgeons also perform the wide variety of general surgery procedures including hernia repairs (both traditional and keyhole), gall bladder operations and removal of minor bumps and lumps.