Upper GI surgery
Our upper GI (oesophagogastric) unit works in partnership with the University of Southampton. We provide care for patients from across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Channel Islands and the Dorset region. We also look after patients from wider afield who need the specialist interventions from a multi-disciplinary team that we can provide. This could be support from our thoracic, cardiac, nutritional or interventional radiology teams, for example. Our patients are mainly cared for on E5 upper, which is the upper gastrointestinal ward, and within critical care.
We're committed to innovation and are constantly working to improve the service that we offer for patients. Recently this has focused on robotic surgery, enhanced recovery, totally minimally invasive oesophagectomy, endoscopic surgery, novel anti-reflux procedures and bariatrics.
Our clinicians also provide local and national leadership in surgical innovation, governance and ethics.
Our purpose: “A brilliant collaboration of world-class people constantly committed to delivering outstanding patient outcomes, perpetual innovation, and world-leading research in upper GI surgery.”
Cancer service
In Southampton, we have unique opportunities to take part in research into oesophageal cancer. Our team has been able to take advantage of this to help prevent oesophageal and gastric cancer, with involvement in research focusing on prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Following cancer treatment, patients at UHS consistently have outcomes better than the national average. The upper GI unit clinical outcomes for cancer are the best in the UK, according to the National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit (NOGCA; 2020).