Frequently Asked Questions

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Windsor Bowel Clinic offers prompt, accurate diagnosis of a wide variety of bowel conditions and hernias. Our team offer four clinics through the week, including Tuesday evening and Saturday morning, prompt investigation and the full range of treatments.  When opting for private medical care, we aim to give you prompt access to appointments and investigations with on-going continuity through all your care.

Read more about our practice and our consultants.

Windsor Bowel Clinic is a group of colorectal and hernia specialists. Our consultants each have their own areas of expertise, which may make you better suited to see a particular consultant. However ultimately the choice is yours if you do have a preference, or have been recommended to one of our doctors.

The benefits of using Windsor Bowel Clinic include rapid access to a consultant assessment and the comprehensive knowledge a group of specialist clinicians can provide.

Our website provides general information so does not cover every symptom, particularly for less common bowel conditions.

If you are experiencing symptoms relating to your digestive tract, your bowel movements and bowel habits, abdominal pain, or, you think you may have a hernia, we will be able to give you a prompt, accurate diagnosis.

Contact us to book an appointment

Our services are available to those with or without private health insurance. If you don’t have insurance, you can find our standard fees in this schedule.

Overseas visitors are very welcome in our practice. If you have suitable health insurance then the cost of your fees may be covered,  we also have self-pay arrangements for all other circumstances.

If you are insured, the insurance company will inform you of any direct payment if required . If you are self-paying, we accept electronic transfers, cheques and phone card payment.

Our secretaries are available to answer your phone calls or e-mails Monday to Friday 0900 – 1600. We offer four clinics each week, including Tuesday evening and Saturday appointments.

Contact us to book an appointment.

Each consultant has their own secretary, with their own dedicated phone number and e-mail address. As you will usually have on going care under the same consultant we suggest you preferentially liaise directly with their personal secretary.

Contact our Team

At Windsor Bowel Clinic we work together as a team to optimise communication so the generic Windsor Bowel Clinic telephone number and e-mail address are a good second option.

Prior to your colonoscopy appointment you will be sent detailed instructions on how to prepare for your colonoscopy; including the diet to follow and when to take the laxatives. The consultant you see in clinic will usually organise for you to pick up the laxative from the clinic area nurse’s station immediately after your clinic appointment.

We will usually ask you to stop any blood thinning medication 5 to 7 days before and some blood pressure tablets (such as Ramipril) on the day of the colonoscopy.

Read more about the colonoscopy preparation.

You will be moved back to the same bay you were in before the procedure. You will be given something to eat. The nurse will check your blood pressure, check you are safe to mobilise and give you a copy of the colonoscopy report.

The consultant will usually come to talk to you about the colonoscopy before you go home. You will need someone to drive you home and be with you overnight because of the sedation you are given for the colonoscopy.

You will usually be seen in clinic by the consultant about 2 weeks later to discuss any biopsy results.

Read more about the colonoscopy procedure

Bowel cancer is most common in people over 60 years of age , around 10% of cases are in people between age 50 and 60.

If you have a family history of bowel polyps or colorectal cancers, it is usually advisable to have a colonoscopy. In some countries you would be offered routine screening colonoscopy at 50 even if you do not have a family history.

Learn more about Family History and Early Diagnosis.

In England at the age of 60 you will be invited to return some stool samples. If there is a positive result (microscopic evidence of blood) this does not totally exclude but suggests that there may well be an abnormality, you will be invited to have a colonoscopy. Pilot sites are evaluating screening from the age of 50.

All procedures come with an element of risk, however these risks are usually very low.

Risk will depend on your general health and the specific procedure you are having. We have described risks for the most common procedures in the website. Your consultant will discuss the specific risks with you before proceeding with any treatment options, so you will be in a position to make an informed decision.

Contact us to book a consultation.

You will usually go home the same day, be able to shower from the day after surgery and do not necessarily need to continue with a dressing (sutures in the skin do not need removal as they are dissolvable and the area is sealed with a thin layer of glue).

You should avoid driving until you can do a safe emergency stop; usually 2 weeks after the procedure (check your car insurance policy). You should avoid heavy lifting for about 6 weeks after the procedure.

Read more about Hernia Surgery

This depends on the size of the haemorrhoids and the type of surgery performed. The smaller procedure of banding usually results in significant discomfort for about 36hrs. The stitching operation called HALO-RAR for medium sized haemorrhoids, pain for about 1 week and the traditional open operation for the largest haemorrhoids pain that initially can be significant continuing for about 6 weeks.

Giving your health the priority it deserves

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