Private gastroenterology in Birmingham: endoscopy and digestive care locally

The Harborne Hospital describes its digestive health department as diagnosing and treating conditions of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract and bowel. Its list includes bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, gallstones, hernias (inguinal, femoral, incisional and umbilical), acid reflux, chronic constipation, diverticular disease and peptic ulcers.

Endoscopy is central. The page names gastroscopy for the upper tract, colonoscopy for the bowel, virtual colonoscopy done through CT imaging, and ERCP, a procedure that examines the bile and pancreatic ducts. It also lists blood tests, stool analysis, ultrasound, CT and MRI as supporting investigations.

On the surgical side the hospital names anterior resection for rectal cancer, appendicectomy, gallbladder removal, hemicolectomy, hernia repair, colostomy reversal and rectal prolapse surgery, with da Vinci robotic-assisted options and cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy for certain abdominal cancers. It says next-day appointments and results within 48 hours are emphasised, alongside four theatres, 50 private beds and an on-site intensive treatment unit.

Spire Parkway describes its service as tests and treatments to diagnose the signs and symptoms of digestive diseases. Four items are listed: colonoscopy, gastroscopy, the LINX system and liver and kidney testing. The page says the hospital has dedicated gastroenterology consultants and offers virtual consultations for some appointments.

The LINX system is a ring of small magnetic beads placed around the lower end of the gullet in selected people with long-standing reflux that medicine does not control. It is a surgical decision with real trade-offs, so expect your consultant to review tests such as a gastroscopy and a pH study before suggesting it.

The hospital is on Damson Parkway in Solihull. Drivers use the A41 Solihull bypass from M42 junction 5, and Birmingham International and Solihull stations are each about a 10-minute taxi ride.

NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB commissions local NHS care, and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust runs the four main hospital sites at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull. We could not confirm from the trust website which sites hold which endoscopy lists, so your referral letter is the guide.

If a GP suspects bowel cancer, an urgent referral aims for confirmation or exclusion within 28 days under the Faster Diagnosis Standard. For non-urgent gastroenterology the 18-week standard applies. English patients referred by their GP also have a legal right to choose among providers with an NHS contract, which can include a private hospital. The My Planned Care website helps compare local waits.

Ongoing heartburn, regurgitation or pain on swallowing is usually first treated with lifestyle changes and acid-suppressing medicine. A gastroscopy is arranged when symptoms are persistent, when there are alarm features, or when the question is whether the lining of the gullet has changed.

Bowel symptoms such as blood in the stool, a change in habit or iron-deficiency anaemia lead to blood tests, a stool test for inflammation or hidden blood, and often colonoscopy. A virtual colonoscopy by CT is an alternative for some people, though any polyp found on it would usually need a standard colonoscopy afterwards.

Gallstones cause episodes of pain under the ribs on the right, often after fatty meals; ultrasound shows them, and the usual treatment is keyhole gallbladder removal. Hernias are found on examination and sometimes ultrasound.

Colonoscopy requires a bowel preparation the day before and often sedation, so you will need a responsible adult to collect you. The Harborne Hospital is a five-minute walk from University station and lists free parking in Car Park 2 on Wolfson Drive, with a drop-off bay by the entrance, which is convenient when you are tired afterwards.

Ask which hospital will host your test, because a consultant who works at both Edgbaston and Solihull may see you in one place and scope you in another.

• Ask what bowel preparation is used and when to start.

• Ask whether sedation is routine, and if you may need a day off work afterwards.

• Ask how biopsy results reach you and in what time.

• Ask what the written estimate includes: consultation, endoscopy, pathology and any follow-up.

The Harborne Hospital states that insured patients need a GP referral and an insurer authorisation code, while self-pay patients can have a clear quote. Spire Parkway says it accepts self-pay, insured and NHS patients and has an online consultant search tool.

Facilities and consultant lists change; confirm directly with the provider. This page does not recommend any hospital.