Liver (Hepatology)

You will be referred to us if there is a concern regarding your liver, pancreas or biliary system. We manage a wide range of conditions including cirrhosis, alcohol-related liver diseases, fatty liver, autoimmune conditions, biliary conditions, metabolic liver disease and cancers of the liver, gallbladder or pancreas.

We are a regional referral unit for complex liver and pancreaticobiliary diseases, and viral hepatitis, seeing patients from South West London hospitals. We work very closely with the King’s College Hospital for patients where liver, pancreas or biliary surgery, including liver transplantation, is being considered.

The historical routine waiting time to be seen in clinic was 3-6 months, but the introduction of a new model of streamlining assessment and investigations once your GP has referred you to us, called the Hepatology Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) has resulted in a more rapid evaluation (see Hepatology CAS leaflet).

Outpatient clinics include four general liver clinics per week at St. George’s including Monday mornings, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, and a monthly clinic on a Wednesday afternoon at Queen Mary’s Hospital (Roehampton). Additionally, there are two viral hepatitis clinics at St. George’s on Tuesday afternoons, and a Stable Cirrhosis clinic on Monday morning. Clinics are run by consultants, registrars, specialist nurses and specialist pharmacists.

The coronavirus pandemic taught us that in some cases, telephone consultations are better or acceptable alternatives to being seen in person. This is left to your clinician’s discretion and judgement. Please carefully look out for any communications about your clinic appointments, and we would advise signing up to the St. George’s patient portal where you can access clinic information and documents (link for patient portal inserted here).

In addition to our out-patient work we have a dedicated in-patient hepatology service with a daily review of patients with liver, pancreatic and biliary related diseases by a consultant liver specialist. A Gastrointestinal and Liver Day Unit (GALDU) also enables patients to be assessed or receive treatment without the need for admission.

Our role as a teaching hospital means we are responsible for training medical students, trainee doctors and allied health professionals. We also have an active research programme including participation in national and international studies, for which you may be approached to take part.