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
Indigestion, trapped wind or constipation
Very common and usually settle with simple measures.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Cramping pain that comes and goes, often with bloating and a changeable bowel habit.
Gallstones
Pain in the upper right tummy, often after fatty food — common and very treatable.
Why it's worth getting checked
Persistent or worsening pain can occasionally be a sign of a hernia, inflammation, or a problem in the bowel, gallbladder or stomach that needs treatment. Finding the cause early usually means a simpler solution.
When to get this checked
Please arrange to be seen if:
- The pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks or keeps coming back
- It is slowly getting worse
- It comes with weight loss, a change in bowel habit, or bleeding
- You can feel a lump or swelling in your tummy or groin
- The pain wakes you at night
Get urgent help now if…
Go to A&E or call 999 (or NHS 111 for advice) if:
- Sudden, severe tummy pain
- A hard, rigid or very tender abdomen
- Vomiting blood, or you feel faint or feverish with the pain
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 the right test for your symptoms, which may be a scan, a colonoscopy, or a gastroscopy 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
- 8,000+ procedures performed
- FRCS — Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon
- MB ChB with Honours & Distinction (Sheffield)
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
Should I see a GP or a surgeon?
Either is reasonable. As a surgeon I can assess the common causes I treat — bowel, gallbladder, hernia — and arrange the right test quickly if one is needed.
What tests might I need?
It depends on where and how the pain behaves. I only recommend tests that will genuinely help, and explain why.
How soon can I be seen?
A telephone consultation can often be arranged within a day or two, with examination and tests soon after.