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
Diet, stress or a recent illness
A change in what you eat, your routine, or a bout of gastroenteritis can unsettle your bowels for a while.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
A common, manageable condition that causes changeable bowel habits, bloating and cramps.
Medication
Some medicines, including painkillers and iron tablets, can change your bowel habit.
Why it's worth getting checked
When a change lasts longer than about three weeks — particularly looser or more frequent stools — it occasionally points to inflammation, a polyp, or bowel cancer. Catching these early is the single biggest factor in successful, straightforward treatment.
When to get this checked
Please arrange to be seen if:
- Your bowel habit has been different for three weeks or more
- You are going more often, or your stools are looser, and it isn't settling
- The change comes with bleeding, tummy pain, weight loss, or tiredness
- You are over 50, or have a family history of bowel cancer
- You feel you are not fully emptying your bowel
Get urgent help now if…
Go to A&E or call 999 (or NHS 111 for advice) if:
- Severe tummy pain with vomiting, and you cannot pass stool or wind
- A swollen, tense, very tender abdomen
- Large amounts of blood in your stool
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, and sometimes a scan, to find the cause and treat it early 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
How long is too long to wait?
A change that has lasted three weeks or more is worth checking, especially with any bleeding, pain or weight loss. There is no benefit to waiting and worrying.
Could it just be IBS?
IBS is common and very possible, but it is a diagnosis made after ruling out other causes. I can usually reassure you quickly with the right assessment.
Can a phone call speed things up?
Yes. A telephone consultation lets me understand your history and, where appropriate, arrange the right test promptly — sometimes before your first face-to-face visit.