Dr Robert Willert

Dr Willert was appointed as a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary in 2008. He specialises in the management of patients with digestive disorders of the luminal gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach, small bowel and colon). This includes the diagnosis and management of heartburn (gastro oesophageal reflux disease), indigestion (dyspepsia), abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and the investigation and nutritional management of weight loss and food intolerance. Dr Willert is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and completed a joint physiology/pharmacology degree with first class honours in 1993 and qualified in medicine with honours in 1996. He subsequently completed a PhD in gastrointestinal pharmacology, assessing the mechanisms of pain in gastrointestinal disease, from the University of Manchester. In 2006 he was awarded an international research fellowship in Perth, Western Australia at the specialist inflammatory bowel disease centre where he trained in complex inflammatory bowel disease management as well as advanced endoscopic procedures including endoscopic mucosal resection and double balloon enteroscopy. He has specialist expertise in the endoscopic diagnosis and endoscopic therapy of heartburn and Barrett’s oesophagus. He provides BRAVO wireless pH assessment for oesophageal reflux and endoscopic mucosal resection and the new HALO radiofrequency ablation therapy for Barrett’s (as a tertiary service for Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire). He is also a nationally accredited bowel cancer screening colonoscopist for which he provides a weekly regional screening colonoscopy and advanced polypectomy / EMR service for patients across the conurbation. He is a national expert in double balloon enteroscopy for the management of small bowel disorders and provides a regional service for patients. He is also an endoscopy trainer for the regions junior doctors. In addition, given his BSc and PhD background he has a specialist interest in the pharmacological management of all gastrointestinal disorders including both simple and complex inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastro-oesophageal reflux and constipation. He has published original research widely and continues to do so and is a national speaker on gastrointestinal disorders. He has recently sat on the NICE committee developing national guidelines and has ongoing clinical research studies in Barrett’s oesophagus and inflammatory bowel disease. He is also passionate about teaching and is an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Manchester.

Acid Reflux; Indigestion; Diarrhoea and Constipation; Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); Colonic Polyps; Barrett's Oesophagus; Gastro-oesophageal reflux; Colonoscopy; Luminal gastroenterology; Endoscopy - lower GI; Coeliac disease (celiac disease / gluten sensitive enteropathy); Peptic ulcers; Endoscopy - therapeutic; Interventional endoscopy; Endoscopy - upper GI; Bowel disease including inflammatory (IBD). BRAVO ph testing for reflux. Endoscopic eradication therapy for Barrett's (HALO RFA and EMR); Colon Cancer Screening.