Questions and Answers with Consultant Gastroenterologist Professor Stephen Patchett

By Clara Caslin

Professor Stephen Patchett is a Consultant Gastroenterologist who works in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. He also works in The Bon Secours hospitals and is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Royal College of Surgeons Dublin. He graduated from UCD and began his training in Dublin before moving to London to train in St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals. 

He was a Senior Lecturer in St Barts in 1996 and then returned to Ireland to take up his current position in Beaumont in November 1998. He has a focus on diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy and therapeutics of inflammatory bowel disease. He is the clinical lead for endoscopy services in Beaumont and The Bon Secours. He is currently the chair of the working group for the national QA programme in endoscopy and represents the College of Physicians on the QA Steering group and the Conjoint Endoscopy Curriculum development group. 

Professor Stephen Patchett

What is your role?

Consultant Gastroenterologist.

When did you realise that being a Gastroenterologist was what you wanted to do? 

When I was a second year junior doctor and started working with a very influential gastroenterologist who subsequently became my mentor.

How many IBD patients do you treat (estimate)? 

1000.

What age group are the patients you treat? 

17-85.

Are all cases different or do you see a lot of similar ones? 

Whilst there are similarities, every patient is different both in the manifestation of their disease and their approach to dealing with their illness.

What do you think people can do to help their IBD?  

Look after themselves physically and emotionally. Eat well, exercise, don’t smoke. Learn as much as they can about their disease through interaction with others and IBD societies.

Do you ever think there will ever be a cure? 

I think ultimately yes but this will be some way off. However our ability to control the disease is improving rapidly and living with IBD will not be the challenge that it use to be.

What sort of lifestyle do you tell patients is best for them? 

Important to stay active and eat well (as we all should). This is the same advice that we would give to the general population.

Do you think IBD is one of the hardest diseases to live with? 

Difficult question as there are many difficult diseases. It really depends on the severity of an individual’s disease.

What would you say to someone who was newly diagnosed? 

Apart from explaining the nature of the disease and its treatment, I would stress that in the vast majority of cases, treatment is very successful and that a very fulfilling and active life is possible. I think a positive outlook is very important.

Image Credit: beaumont.ie