Patients suffering from abdominal pain, bowel habit disturbances, nausea, weight loss, gallstones and rectal bleeding should discuss their symptoms with their GP who may then choose to seek the advice of a specialist doctor in this field.
Your doctor will take a full medical history and will normally perform a thorough clinical examination. Blood tests are frequently requested and in more complex cases other tests will be required. Additional tests such as ultrasound, CT or MRI scans may be required to help the specialist determine the cause of symptoms.
Often endoscopy and / or colonoscopy are recommended in order to make an accurate diagnosis. These tests allow the specialist to study the inside lining of the stomach, duodenum and colon which in conjunction with other tests will allow a diagnosis to be made and ensure the correct clinical management is offered.
Many gastroenterological conditions are caused by or related to diet choices. Gut health relies heavily of plant-based food choices. Medical research has shown that sub-optimal consumption of plant based dietary fibre is associated with an increased risk of developing bowel cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation / diverticular disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
The 2021 Gibraltar Public Health and Lifestyle Report noted that 82% of Gibraltar’s population do not eat the recommended five or more portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Our-Nations-Health-final-2021.pdf (healthygibraltar.org)
Our gastroenterology team at the Specialist Medical Clinic is available for consultation every week. Endoscopy and Colonoscopy are carried out routinely in the clinic and at our associated hospitals in Spain.
If you are suffering from abdominal pain or gastro-intestinal symptoms, please contact the clinic to book an appointment.
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Your Specialists
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Mr. David Deardon BM MD FRCS FRCS(Ed)
Chief Executive / General Surgeon & Endoscopist
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Dr Gareth Latin
Consultant Gastroenterologist
Don't judge another (wo)man until you have walked a mile in their moccasins "
(American First Nation proverb)
Mr. David Deardon BM MD FRCS FRCS(Ed)
Chief Executive / General Surgeon & Endoscopist
Areas of expertise
UK Trained Consultant General and Transplant Surgeon, now providing day case General Surgery and Surgical Gastroenterology to SMC
Education and professional training
Trained at Southampton Medical School (BM) 1984. Became a Fellow of both the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FRCS) and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS Ed) in 1989. Completed EU Surgical Training in 1990 and UK Surgical Training in 1996. Completed my Doctorate at Manchester University in 1999
Professional Qualifications, Associations & Accomplishments
Over 20 published scientific papers in peer reviewed journals Presented and co-authored a number of scientific presentations at international congresses in Japan, Europe, India, USA and the UK. Accredited as a specialist in General Surgery in 1997 and joined the GMC’s specialist register.
Professional experience
Held consultant posts in Plymouth (Senior Lecturer /Associate Professor), Guys and St Thomas’s Hospitals London, Oxford Radcliffe (Honorary Tutor to Green College and involved in the initial development of the highly successful Oxford Pancreas and Non-heart beating kidney transplant programmes), the Western Infirmary, Glasgow (reintroduced the
Languages spoken
English
Interests
Doing exciting things with my family, travelling (to explore cultures and geography); philately, jigsaws and skiing.
Dr Gareth Latin
Consultant Gastroenterologist
Areas of expertise
General Gastroenterology covering a broad range of diseases involving the oesophagus, stomach, small and large bowel as well as the liver. Special interest in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, diagnostic upper GI endoscopy and Colonoscopy.
Education and professional training
I completed my medical training at Aberdeen University with subsequent training in various NHS hospitals throughout Scotland. I continued with my Higher Specialist Training in Gastroenterology in Edinburgh working in both the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary within the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit and the Western General Hospital which was the regional unit for the management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Professional Qualifications, Associations & Accomplishments
BChB from Aberdeen University Member of the Royal College of Physicians Member of the British Society of Gastroenterology JAG Accreditation in Upper and Lower GI Endoscopy
Professional experience
Having practiced in the NHS for 9 years I returned to Gibraltar in 2015 to work as the Consultant Gastroenterologist in the Gibraltar Health Authority. I am also the Clinical Lead for the Gibraltar Bowel Cancer Screening Programme and previously worked as the Clincal Director for the Department of General Medicine.
Languages spoken
English
