Gastroenterology covers a wide range of disorders including those of the gastrointestinal tract in its entirety, the liver, the pancreas and the biliary tree. The diversity of organs affected and the numerous diseases afflicting these organs makes Gastroenterology a particularly attractive specialty. 

Endoscopy is a central component of Gastroenterology with sub-specialty training in oesophageal therapy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasound, portal hypertension, small bowel studies, as well as more conventional upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Gastroenterologists in East Anglia also contribute to general medicine and the majority of trainees to date have achieved dual accreditation. A major attraction of Gastroenterology has been the evolution of critical collaborations with radiologists, pathologists, GI surgeons, liver transplant teams, and a variety of clinical nurse specialists, nutritionists and psychologists. 

Gastroenterologists in most district general hospitals cover a variety of disorders including inflammatory bowel disease, oesophageal disease, hepatology, small bowel disorders and perform most routine endoscopies. Within the region, sub-speciality interests have evolved including hepatology, liver transplantation, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal failure small bowel transplantation. New government initiatives have stressed the value of rapid throughput for patients with potential malignancy, which forms a critical component of the speciality.

Training Programme

The deneary tends to be geographically split into East (Norwich based) and West (Cambridge) but with the option to move according to preference and to remain for several years within a sub-region – the programme director being as accommodating as possible in this regard. Bedford, Huntingdon, Ipswich, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn, Bury St Edmunds, Basildon, Colchester, Stevenage, Watford, Chelmsford, Peterborough and Luton & Dunstable hospitals are smaller units with between three and six lead gastroenterologists.  Each of these offers an excellent mix of Gastroenterology and general medicine as well as variable specific training including ERCP, oesophageal manometry, capsule endoscopy, balloon enteroscopy and EMR.  The units at Norwich and Cambridge are larger and allow sub-specialty exposure in Hepatology, Nutrition, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and advanced endoscopy (EUS and ERCP), which can be either as part of the rotation or a dedicated Advanced Training Programme (ATP).