Gastroenterology

Overview
Contact
Referrals
The team
Patient leaflets

Overview

Gastroenterology is the study and treatment of the digestive system and digestive problems, including diseases of the intestines, liver and biliary tree, and pancreas. The centre for gastroenterology at the Royal Free London is a multidisciplinary department, offering a range of specialist out-patient and in-patient gastroenterology services as well as state of the art gastrointestinal imaging services. The gastroenterology department also includes gastrointestinal surgery, paediatric gastroenterology, endoscopy services and the Louise Ryan GI physiology unit.

Contact

Do you have an appointment?

Find your ward

Barnet Hospital

Wellhouse Lane
Barnet
EN5 3DJ

Patient enquiries: 020 8370 2588 (outpatients)
020 8216 4924 (patient advice and liaison service)
Chase Farm Hospital

The Ridgeway
Enfield
EN2 8JL

Patient enquiries:020 8370 2588 (outpatients)

Endoscopy booking team: 0203 758 2017

020 8216 4924 (patient advice and liaison service)
Louise Ryan Unit

The Louise Ryan Unit is situated on the lower ground floor at the Royal Free Hospital.

Tel/fax: 020 7830 2923
rf-tr.RFH-LouiseRyanUnit@nhs.net
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Royal Free Hospital

Pond Street
London
NW3 2QG

Patient enquiries: 020 7443 9757 (outpatients)

Endoscopy booking team: 0207 794 0500
020 7472 6446/6447 or 020 7472 6445 (patient advice and liaison service)

GP enquiries: rf.gastroadmin@nhs.net

Referrals

Referral details

Gastroenterolgy referrals

Referrals are welcomed from local GPs and tertiary referrals from any other hospital. All patients are referred by letter from their GP or from other specialists seeking a further opinion. Referrals can also be made via choose and book (CAB).

The centralisation of colorectal services has not changed the referral patterns for GPs or other referrers to the service. Patients can continue to be referred to a particular consultant at a particular hospital. To avoid delay GP referrals should be addressed to a colorectal consultant surgeon or a named consultant surgeon.

Please note, the endoscopy dept at the Royal Free Hospital does not accept direct access referrals to the endoscopy department. However, GPs can refer to the one-stop dyspepsia clinic for direct access upper gastroscopy procedure via paper or CAB referrals.

Louise Ryan referrals

The majority of gastrointestinal physiology tests are not first line tests and patients will usually already be under the care of consultant within one of our hospitals.

We accept referrals from other hospitals using our referral form (link coming soon) or a referral letter which provides the essential information. Our preferred method of receipt is by secure email (NHSmail) as this is the quickest route. Referrals can also be faxed to 020 7830 2923 or sent by post.

The Team

Consultant
Dr Akeel Alisa
Consultant gastroenterologist and general physician

Phone number: 020 8216 4136/4079
Email address: akeel.alisa@nhs.net
Fax: 020 8375 1977
Dr Kalpesh Besherdas
Consultant gastroenterologist

Email address: Kalpesh.Besherdas@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 8375 1540
PA/secretary email address: Karen.Winston@nhs.net
Professor Martyn Caplin
Professor of gastroenterology and neuroendocrine tumours, consultant gastroenterologist

PA/secretary phone number: 020 7830 2867
PA/secretary email address: rf.netadmin@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7472 6728
Private practice phone number: 07495 839 886
Dr Daniel Crespi
Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist,
Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, UCL Medical School

Phone number: 0207 830 2782 or 0207 794 0500 ext 33066
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7830 2782
PA/secretary email address: sue.hempstead@nhs.net; connie.mattina@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7830 2146
Private practice phone number: 0207 317 7751 or 0795 655 0446
Private practice email address: rf.privateenquiries@nhs.net; contact@kidsgastrocare.co.uk
Dr Edward J Despott
Consultant gastroenterologist and GI endoscopist

PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38814
PA/secretary email address: nadine.mclaren@nhs.net
Private practice phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38814/07599 104 983
Private practice email address: rf.despottprivatepractice@nhs.net
Dr Mark Furman
Consultant paediatric gastroenterologist(Clinical lead for paediatric gastroenterology)

Phone number: 020 7830 2782
PA/secretary email address: sue.hempstead@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7830 2146
Private practice phone number: 07788 444 046
Dr Daniel Krell
Consultant medical oncologist

Email address: danielkrell@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38364/020 8216 4359
PA/secretary email address: cedric.michael@nhs.net
Fax: 020 8216 4409
Private practice phone number: 020 7317 2680
Private practice email address: tdoble@theloc.com
Dr Steven Mann
Consultant gastroenterologist

Phone number: 020 8216 4982
Email address: steve.mann@nhs.net
Fax: 020 8216 4219
Astrid Mayer
Consultant medical oncologist

Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38364
Email address: astrid.mayer@ucl.ac.uk
PA/secretary email address: kdavis2@nhs.net
Dr Charles Murray
Consultant gastroenterologist

PA/secretary phone number: 020 3758 2000 ext 33990
Dr Kwok Tang
Consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist

Email address: k.tang@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 8216 5487
PA/secretary email address: zoe.senior@nhs.net
Fax: 020 8216 4219
Dr Christos Toumpanakis
Consultant in gastroenterology and neuroendocrine tumours

Email address: rf.netadmin@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7830 2867
PA/secretary email address: rf.netadmin@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7431 5261
Mr Massimo Varcada
Consultant surgeonHonorary senior lecturer surgery

Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38707
Email address: massimo.varcada@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38666
PA/secretary email address: patricia.o'donoghue@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7317 7712
Nursing team
Miss Kay Greveson
Clinical nurse specialist, inflammatory bowel disease

Phone number: 020 7830 2283
Email address: rf.ibdnurses@nhs.net