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Gastroenterology Service | Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) | Te Whatu Ora
Public Service, Gastroenterology & Hepatology (Liver)
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Description
Formerly Northland DHB Gastroenterology Service
What is Gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine that looks at diseases of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach, small and large intestines (bowel), liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
Referral Expectations
Your GP will refer you to our service if they are concerned that you have problems that require a specialist gastroenterology consultation regarding the diagnosis or treatment of your condition. You may also be referred directly to the Gastroenterology Department for a specific procedure without a prior clinic appointment.
Waiting times for clinics range from 0-6 months depending on the urgency, which is assessed from the letter we receive from your GP.
Initial clinic appointments will take 40 minutes and any follow up appointment will be 20 minutes. A history of your symptoms will be taken as well as a review of any medications you are on (please bring these with you). You will then be examined and depending on your complaints, this could be a rectal examination. From here you may be referred for more tests and you will be notified of this during the appointment and in writing.
Hours
| Mon – Fri | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
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Common Terms / Conditions / Procedures / Treatments
Consist of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum – different sections of small intestine) and the large intestine (colon and rectum). As food passes through the small intestine, nutrients are broken down and absorbed. When it passes into the colon, water is absorbed. The waste that is left is passed as faeces (poo).
Consist of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum – different sections of small intestine) and the large intestine (colon and rectum). As food passes through the small intestine, nutrients are broken down and absorbed. When it passes into the colon, water is absorbed. The waste that is left is passed as faeces (poo).
Consist of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum – different sections of small intestine) and the large intestine (colon and rectum). As food passes through the small intestine, nutrients are broken down and absorbed. When it passes into the colon, water is absorbed. The waste that is left is passed as faeces (poo).
Roughly the size of a football the liver is on your right side just under your ribs. It stores vitamins, sugar and iron which are used by cells in the body for energy. It also clears the body of waste products and drugs, produces substances that are used to help blood clot and aid the immune system, and produces bile which aids in digestion.
Roughly the size of a football the liver is on your right side just under your ribs. It stores vitamins, sugar and iron which are used by cells in the body for energy. It also clears the body of waste products and drugs, produces substances that are used to help blood clot and aid the immune system, and produces bile which aids in digestion.
Roughly the size of a football the liver is on your right side just under your ribs. It stores vitamins, sugar and iron which are used by cells in the body for energy. It also clears the body of waste products and drugs, produces substances that are used to help blood clot and aid the immune system, and produces bile which aids in digestion.
The tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.
The tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.
The tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.
An elongated organ that lies in the back of the mid-abdomen. It is responsible for producing digestive juices and certain hormones including insulin, the main hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar.
An elongated organ that lies in the back of the mid-abdomen. It is responsible for producing digestive juices and certain hormones including insulin, the main hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar.
An elongated organ that lies in the back of the mid-abdomen. It is responsible for producing digestive juices and certain hormones including insulin, the main hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar.
Where food is broken down by acid and emptied into your intestines. The stomach has special cells lining its wall to protect it from these acids.
Where food is broken down by acid and emptied into your intestines. The stomach has special cells lining its wall to protect it from these acids.
Where food is broken down by acid and emptied into your intestines. The stomach has special cells lining its wall to protect it from these acids.
Bowel Polyp Removal
Bowel Polyp Removal
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy
A flexible tube with a tiny video camera attached (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth into the stomach and small intestine while you are under sedation (medication to make you drowsy). A smaller tube is then moved through the first tube into the bile duct (the tube that connects your gallbladder to your intestines), or the pancreas duct, through which dye is injected and an x-ray is taken to visualise the ducts. This procedure enables the removal of stones from the ducts without the need for surgery and also allows for the placement of small drainage tubes (stents) to relieve a blockage in the bile ducts. Possible complications include inflammation of the pancreas in 2-4% of patients, bleeding or perforation of the wall of the intestine.
A flexible tube with a tiny video camera attached (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth into the stomach and small intestine while you are under sedation (medication to make you drowsy). A smaller tube is then moved through the first tube into the bile duct (the tube that connects your gallbladder to your intestines), or the pancreas duct, through which dye is injected and an x-ray is taken to visualise the ducts. This procedure enables the removal of stones from the ducts without the need for surgery and also allows for the placement of small drainage tubes (stents) to relieve a blockage in the bile ducts. Possible complications include inflammation of the pancreas in 2-4% of patients, bleeding or perforation of the wall of the intestine.
A flexible tube with a tiny video camera attached (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth into the stomach and small intestine while you are under sedation (medication to make you drowsy). A smaller tube is then moved through the first tube into the bile duct (the tube that connects your gallbladder to your intestines), or the pancreas duct, through which dye is injected and an x-ray is taken to visualise the ducts.
This procedure enables the removal of stones from the ducts without the need for surgery and also allows for the placement of small drainage tubes (stents) to relieve a blockage in the bile ducts.
Possible complications include inflammation of the pancreas in 2-4% of patients, bleeding or perforation of the wall of the intestine.
Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy
Hepatitis
Hepatitis
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
The best way to establish what type of liver disease is present and the extent of the disease, is a biopsy. It is usually performed by inserting a needle into the liver through the skin and taking a small sample of liver tissue. Examination of the sample under the microscope can demonstrate what damage or what type of disease is present. Before your doctor does this procedure, they will check whether or not you are at increased risk of bleeding by doing blood tests. Following the procedure, you will need to be monitored for several hours before you are discharged to go home. It is best to avoid strenuous activity for 2-3 days after a liver biopsy.
The best way to establish what type of liver disease is present and the extent of the disease, is a biopsy. It is usually performed by inserting a needle into the liver through the skin and taking a small sample of liver tissue. Examination of the sample under the microscope can demonstrate what damage or what type of disease is present. Before your doctor does this procedure, they will check whether or not you are at increased risk of bleeding by doing blood tests. Following the procedure, you will need to be monitored for several hours before you are discharged to go home. It is best to avoid strenuous activity for 2-3 days after a liver biopsy.
The best way to establish what type of liver disease is present and the extent of the disease, is a biopsy. It is usually performed by inserting a needle into the liver through the skin and taking a small sample of liver tissue. Examination of the sample under the microscope can demonstrate what damage or what type of disease is present. Before your doctor does this procedure, they will check whether or not you are at increased risk of bleeding by doing blood tests. Following the procedure, you will need to be monitored for several hours before you are discharged to go home. It is best to avoid strenuous activity for 2-3 days after a liver biopsy.
Peptic Ulcer
Peptic Ulcer
Polyps
Polyps
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Website
Contact Details
Whangārei Hospital
Northland
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Phone
(09) 430 4100
Website
Emergency Department: Open 24 hours / 7 days, Phone (09) 430 4100
Feedback, compliments, complaints and suggestions
Medical Outpatients Department
Whangarei Hospital
Maunu Road
Private Bag 9742
Whangarei
Northland 0148
Street Address
Medical Outpatients Department
Whangārei Hospital
Maunu Road
Private Bag 9742
Whangārei
Northland 0148
Postal Address
Whangārei Hospital
Private Bag 9742
Whangārei 0148
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This page was last updated at 2:48PM on November 22, 2023. This information is reviewed and edited by Gastroenterology Service | Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) | Te Whatu Ora.