Upper Gastrointestinal Nursing Service
What we do
The Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) Nursing Service is provided by a team of highly qualified and experienced nurses and clinicians. They have specialist knowledge and skills in the care and support of patients with upper gastro intestinal cancer.
We mange cancer of the oesophagus ('gullet'), stomach duodenum and small bowel, which includes cancers of the hepatobiliary origin (HPB) such as cancers of the pancreas, liver and bile ducts.
Diagnostic pathway
During your initial cancer diagnostic pathway, you will be guided through the process by a pre-diagnostic nurse, Krystal Johnson. Her role with help to co-ordinate all the diagnostic tests that may be required, working closely with the endoscopy and radiology departments, gastroenterology consultants, primary clinical leads and the established UGI and HPB specialist nurses.
Key worker
The service provides a key worker for patients who attend Hillingdon Hospital - Mary Mulloy. Her role is as point of contact for patients throughout their cancer treatment and follow-up. Through her, the upper GI nursing service provides a link with other key workers, in particular the tertiary cancer centres and health care professionals at your referring hospital, as well as your GP and community nurses.
The service provides:
- specialist nursing assessment and advice about problems you may be experiencing due to your disease or the treatment
- comprehensive information about your type of cancer, treatment options, side effects and follow-up care
- time to talk through the information you have been given and discuss any concerns
- support for you and your family or your carers
- a point of contact when you have questions or concerns between hospital visits.
Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA)
If you have cancer, you often need care, support and information above and beyond the management of your condition. At a Holistic Needs Assessment, a doctor or nurse will discuss your physical, emotional and social needs. It’s about you as a whole, not just your illness.
This is a chance for you to share as much as you want about your worries and concerns. It will help us to clarify your needs and make sure you are referred to the relevant services. It’s not compulsory, and if you decide not to have an HNA it won’t affect your care. But many patients find it useful because it identifies the help available – and the doctor or nurse carrying it out can refer you to other services.
An HNA may be offered:
- around the time of diagnosis or start of treatment
- when surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy have been completed.
Key staff and other contacts
Key staff
Clinicians
Dr Sarah Lean – consultant gastroenterologist and lead clinician
Dr Aymer Postgate — consultant gastroenterologist
Dr Bob Grover - consultant gastroenterologist/hepatologist
Dr Arun Rajendran - consultant gastroenterologist
Dr Raj Rameshshanker – consultant gastroenterologist
Dr Yih-Harn Siaw - consultant gastroenterologist
Dr Katie Caudwell – consultant in palliative care
Dr Mark Harrison – consultant clinical oncologist
Pre-diagnostic nurse
Krystal Johnson
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Mary Mulloy - (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) 01895 279298
Team co-ordinator
Angelina O’Toole 01895 279549
Secretaries
Pauline Budgen - medical secretary, gastroenterology 01895 279778
Carole Coward – secretary for oncology and palliative care 01895 279906
If you are having treatment at a cancer centre and need advice please contact the 24hr help line on your treatment card.
Useful resources
Stomach cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support