First, some reassurance. Most people with this symptom do not have anything serious — but it is always better to know than to worry. A quick assessment can put your mind at rest or get treatment started early, when it works best.
Common, usually harmless causes
Piles (haemorrhoids)
Bright red blood on the paper or in the toilet, often with itching or a lump. Very common and usually easily treated.
A small tear (anal fissure)
Sharp pain when you go, with a streak of bright red blood. Painful but not dangerous.
Inflammation of the bowel lining
Conditions such as colitis can cause blood mixed in with the stool.
Why it's worth getting checked
Less often, bleeding can be an early sign of a polyp (a small growth that can be removed before it ever becomes a problem) or bowel cancer. This is exactly why getting checked early matters so much — when these are found early, they are very treatable.
When to get this checked
Please arrange to be seen if you have any of the following:
- Blood in your poo, on the paper, or in the toilet that lasts more than a week or keeps coming back
- Blood mixed in with the stool (rather than just on the surface)
- Bleeding together with a change in your bowel habit, tummy pain, or weight loss
- You are over 50, or have a family history of bowel cancer or polyps
- Dark, plum-coloured or black, tarry stools
Get urgent help now if…
Go to A&E or call 999 (or NHS 111 for advice) if:
- You are passing a large amount of blood, or clots
- Your stools are black and tarry
- You feel dizzy, faint, breathless, or your heart is racing
These need emergency care, not a routine appointment. Please do not wait for a private booking.
How I can help — and how quickly
If your symptom is not an emergency, you do not have to sit on a waiting list to get answers. Here is how it usually works:
- A quick telephone consultation. Often arranged within 24 hours. I listen to your history and explain what is likely going on.
- The right test, arranged fast. Where appropriate, I can organise a colonoscopy (a camera test that lets me look at the whole lining of your bowel and remove any polyps in the same visit) promptly — sometimes before your first face-to-face visit, to speed things up.
- Clear answers and a plan. We go through your results together, and I explain exactly what they mean and what happens next.
Some symptoms need an in-person examination first, and I will always tell you honestly what the best next step is for you.
Why patients choose me
- JAG-accredited in colonoscopy & gastroscopy
- Near-100% caecal intubation rate at colonoscopy
- 8,000+ procedures performed
- FRCS — Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon
Request a telephone consultation
Prefer a call before coming in? Leave your details below and my secretary will contact you to arrange a telephone consultation, usually within 24 hours. Where appropriate, a phone consultation can fast-track you straight to the right test.
Prefer to email directly? Email a 24-hour callback request · or call 01926 935121
Your details are used only to arrange your consultation. Please don't include sensitive medical information in this form.
Get seen quickly
Call my secretary to arrange a fast appointment, or book online via my Nuffield Health profile. I see patients privately at Nuffield Health Warwickshire Hospital, Leamington Spa.
Call 01926 935121Common questions
Is bright red blood always harmless?
Bright red blood is most often from piles or a small tear, but it can occasionally come from higher up. Because you cannot tell the cause by the colour alone, persistent or repeated bleeding should always be examined.
Do I need a colonoscopy?
Not always. After understanding your symptoms and examining you, I will recommend only the test that is right for you — which may be a simple examination, a colonoscopy, or a less invasive option. Many people are reassured very quickly.
How fast can I be seen privately?
A telephone consultation can often be arranged within a day or two, and a face-to-face appointment and any tests soon after — far faster than typical NHS waiting times.