Gastroenterology
Our Services
As well as gastroenterology consultations and endoscopic procedures we offer the following services.
Pillcam: Capsule endoscopy is a technique used to examine the small bowel for patients with symptoms and signs of small bowel disease, and to look for the source of iron deficiency anaemia and hidden intestinal bleeding. Pillcam is the market leader in imaging the small bowel.
Hydrogen breath testing: This investigation looks for malabsorption of dietary sugars and carbohydrate (FODMAP intolerance) and in the investigation of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Following ingestion of a specific sugar, measurements of breath hydrogen are obtained to establish whether absorption is occurring and whether intestinal bacteria are breaking down the sugars in to hydrogen.
pH and motility studies (by other providers): These are used to investigate reflux and swallowing disorders. They provide an in-depth assessment of oesophageal function. These studies are provided through other providers.
Our gastroenterologists pride themselves in providing quality care for their patients. Working together at Tauranga Hospital, they work in a collaborative manner, discussing challenging cases to optimise patient outcomes. They meet regularly at the gastroenterology multidisciplinary meeting along with pathology and radiology specialists each fortnight providing a unified opinion as to the best management for each case. They also have access to the weekly surgical/oncological multidisciplinary team meeting ensuring that patients requiring surgery or cancer treatment, get the best care available.
Our clinicians perform endoscopy at Grace Hospital https://www.gracehospital.co.nz/Specialties/Endoscopy which was established in 2007 and continues to provide high-quality care consistent with the latest international guidelines.
Supporting Services
Dietetic services: Hannah Scalia has worked with our gastroenterologists for many years both at Tauranga Hospital and in the private sector, helping patients with malnutrition, FODMAP intolerance, food allergy and weight management https://www.wholesomenutrition.co.nz/about
Psychological services: The brain and the gut are intimately linked through the so-called brain gut axis. Gastrointestinal disorders can have a significant effect on brain function, and mood disorders/mental illness can affect gastrointestinal function. Both can benefit from psychological therapy including cognitive behavioural therapy and other psychological techniques. It is not a case that your symptoms are “all in your head”. However paying attention to mental wellbeing can have a huge impact on quality of life in patients with symptoms from gastrointestinal disease.
Tim Heetkamp (http://synergypsychology.co.nz/) has been supporting a patient's control the symptoms, improve the quality of life even in the presence of significant gastrointestinal disease.
Dr Adrian Claydon
Adrian treats all aspects of gastrointestinal diseases, has a a special interest in nutrition and capsule endoscopy. He strives to ensure his patients have a clear understanding of their condition so they can make decisions about their own health management.
A general gastroenterologist, Adrian performs both diagnostic and advanced therapeutic gastroscopy, colonoscopy and single balloon enteroscopy, polypectomy, stent insertion and dilatation. He also provides a hydrogen breath-testing service to detect FODMAP malabsorption (a common cause of IBS symptoms) and other related disorders.
After his training at Leicester University Medical School (UK), Adrian came to the Bay of Plenty in 1995 as a gastroenterology registrar at Tauranga Hospital. He went back to the UK to finish his training, which included a nutrition and intestinal motility fellowship at Central Middlesex Hospital, London. He then returned to Tauranga Hospital in 2001, where he worked as a specialist for 19 years. Adrian has had a private practice at Promed House since 2007.
During his 13 years as Head of Gastroenterology at the BOPDHB, Adrian established the acute admissions and planning unit, set up the nutrition team and the gastroenterology multidisciplinary meeting. He also initiated the local gastroenterology training programme and was one of the supervisors. Later he joined the Aotearoa New Zealand Advanced Training Subcommittee – Gastroenterology which is a part of the Royal Australasian college of physicians providing oversight of all the New Zealand gastroenterology trainees.
Adrian was the principal investigator of several research studies into GI disease for the Bay of Plenty Clinical School and is now involved in studies through Momentum Research in Promed house (formerly P3 Research).
Gastrointestinal diseases are often chronic, with distressing symptoms. Adrian finds that by listening to and working with his patients, they are able to safely achieve the best outcomes and quality of life. He strongly supports screening and surveillance, particularly with respect to bowel cancer, which can be prevented by safely removing precancerous polyps (growths). These polyps can become bowel cancers if left untreated.
Adrian continues to be involved in training, and travels regularly to Vanuatu where he is teaching Ni-Van physicians diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. He is involved in setting up the national hepatitis B screening and treatment service. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/working-to-fight-hepatitis-in-vanuatu/4WACZIXSUBDHUQ4YFHZXMQBNOM/
Adrian lives in Tauranga with his wife and four children. A keen wing foiler, he also enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and raising beef cattle on his hobby farm.
Dr Rob Cunliffe
Dr Cunliffe is a seasoned gastroenterologist with a broad based knowledge of gastrointestinal disease and a deep commitment to patient centred care. Robert studied for his medical degree at the University of Oxford in the UK, and completed his advanced training in gastroenterology in Nottingham. Prior to relocating to New Zealand with his family in 2009, Robert was a consultant gastroenterologist at Derby Royal Hospital. Since 2009 he has held the position of consultant gastroenterologist at Tauranga Hospital.
As well as general gastroenterology, Roberts areas of expertise include gastroscopy, colonoscopy, video capsule endoscopy and bowel cancer screening. Robert is not only a clinician, but also a dedicated mentor to advanced trainees in gastroenterology and he also plays an integral role in the selection of junior doctors for training in gastroenterology in New Zealand. He is a member of several international professional gastroenterology societies and has been the principal investigator for several local clinical research trials. Robert is well known for his good communication skills which enhance both patient care and professional training.
Outside of medicine, Robert enjoys tramping and the outdoors, woodwork and reading books.
Dr David McGouran
David looks after patients with all types of suspected and diagnosed Gastrointestinal diseases and enjoys the breadth of conditions encountered in Gastroenterology. His aim is to prevent his patients from requiring surgery by the early identification and endoscopic treatment of bowel polyps.
After gaining his initial medical qualifications, David worked in the United Kingdom for two years, before emigrating to New Zealand in 2008, where he undertook his training in Gastroenterology.
Following this, David completed an advanced endoscopy fellowship in the United Kingdom, which primarily focused on the management of complex Gastrointestinal conditions, such as large Gastrointestinal polyps and the identification and management of small bowel conditions.
David returned to the Bay of Plenty in 2019, where he works as a general Gastroenterologist, caring for patients with Gastrointestinal diseases. He performs both diagnostic and advanced therapeutic gastroscopy and colonoscopy at Tauranga Public Hospital and Grace Hospital.
He is the clinical lead of the bowel cancer screening team at Tauranga Hospital and enjoys his role in the endoscopy training and mentorship of Gastroenterology junior doctors.
David believes good communication with his patients is essential, along with an understanding of circumstances relevant to their treatment. He keeps his patients informed and involved in the decision-making process throughout their treatment and recovery.
Dr Sean Kelly
Dr Kelly trained in Liverpool and Cambridge UK, and was a consultant in the city of York, UK for 20yrs before deciding to move to New Zealand in March 2017. He has been working at Tauranga hospital since then.
He is experienced in managing all aspects of gastroenterology and hepatology, and has a particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease, functional gut disorders and endoscopy/colonoscopy.
Dr Kelly receives referrals for patients with abdominal symptoms, suspected or established gastrointestinal illness, and those who would benefit from an endoscopic procedure.