Liver services

Overview

Treatment for liver disease at the Royal Free London

There are many types of liver disease which can be hereditary, contracted from a virus or as a result of excessive use of substances like alcohol, or of being overweight.

It is well known that high alcohol consumption can result in liver damage. However, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), predominantly caused by obesity, is now the leading cause of chronic liver failure. Fatty liver disease can progress until it becomes liver cancer. 

Several liver diseases, including cirrhosis and fibrosis of the liver – where scar tissue slowly replaces normal, functioning liver tissue – lead to liver damage or liver failure. 

Leading UK liver treatment services at the Royal Free Hospital

The Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, based at the Royal Free Hospital, is one of the UK’s leading centres for treating liver disease and has been established for over 50 years. 

As well as liver damage, acute liver failure and liver cancer, we treat a number of other liver problems, such as:

  • biliary, metastatic and pancreatic cancer
  • alcohol and viral hepatitis (swelling of the liver)
  • genetic liver conditions.

Our highly-skilled and reputed team, supported by the most up-to-date equipment, work with other specialist teams across the Royal Free Hospital to provide liver treatment services, such as:

  • liver biopsies and endoscopies
  • liver transplants
  • gallstone treatment
  • hepatitis treatment and support
  • alcohol treatment and support.

For information on our liver treatment services see the left hand navigation.

Contact

Do you have an appointment?

Find your ward

  • Royal Free Hospital

    Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre
    Pond Street
    London
    NW3 2QG

    Patient enquiries: 020 7794 0500 x 32902  (out-patient contact centre)
                              020 7794 0500 x 33302 (results line)

    GP enquiries: 020 7794 0500 x 36896

Referrals

Referral details

The liver service accepts enquiries and referrals from GPs. If you are a GP, please see the trust's GP extranet for details of contact numbers. (NB this site is not accessible unless you have an NHSNet connection.) GPs wishing to make a referral can do so via Choose and Book.

Most patients will be seen within six weeks of referral. For urgent referrals, please telephone or fax the consultant's secretary.

The out-patient appointment centre manages enquiries from patients.

Referrals are also accepted via the multi-disciplinary-team (MDT) weekly discussions

The Team