Liver services

Clinics

Our liver unit provides a range of services to treat the broad spectrum of conditions affecting the liver, including viral hepatitis, liver disease and cancer.

Charing Cross Hospital

Address

Main outpatients department
First floor
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Road
London
W6 8RF

Contact information

Phone: 020 3313 5000 

Hammersmith Hospital

Address

Main outpatients department
A block 
Hammersmith Hospital
Du Cane Road
London
W12 0HS

Contact information

Phone: 020 3313 5000

St Charles Hospital

Address

Main outpatients department
St Charles Hospital
Exmoor Street
London
W10 6DZ

Contact information

Phone: 020 3312 6254

St Mary’s Hospital

Clinics take place in two locations: our liver clinics take place in the main outpatients department at St Mary's Hospital, and our liver unit is on the tenth floor of the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) building at St Mary's Hospital.

Address

St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London
W2 1NY

Contact information

Main outpatients: 
Phone: 020 3313 5000 

Liver unit: 
Phone: 020 3312 1804

Meet the team

Head of specialty

Dr Ameet Dhar

Consultants

Professor Ashley Brown 
Dr Maud Lemoine
Dr Heather Lewis
Dr Pinelopi Manousou
Dr Benjamin Mullish 
Dr Shevanthi Nayagam
Dr Lucia  Possamai
Dr Nowlan Selvapatt
Dr Belinda Smith
Professor Shahid Khan 
Professor Mark Thursz (head of academics)
Dr Luke Tyson
Dr Nikhil Vergis 

Senior nurse

Gwendoline Johnson 

Nurses

Ricky Gellisen 
Lorna Harrison
Rolynce Godoy
Vijayajaynathi Ponayah
Ghoorun Satish Dohmah

Clinical research specialist nurses

Celia Diaz Moore
Gareth Hahn

Lead pharmacist

Zebib Habtemariam

Clinical trials and clinical research manager

Clare Parsonage

Patient information

Before your appointment

We usually see patients within four to six weeks of receiving their referral. Urgent appointments will be seen within two weeks.

You are welcome to bring a relative, close friend or carer with you to your appointment.

Please follow any written instructions you have been sent about preparing for your appointment, particularly if you are having any scans or other procedures.

If we need to perform a liver biopsy you will receive a telephone call from one of our nurses explaining the procedure and how to prepare for it. The need for a biopsy and other tests will be explained in the clinic prior to any procedure being carried out.

Remember to bring any medications you are taking for your liver or any other conditions along with:

• your full address and telephone number(s)
• your appointment card and appointment letter
• your GP’s name and address
• a full list of any medications you are currently taking
• money to pay for any prescriptions, or an exemption card
• a list of questions you may want to ask your consultant

During your appointment

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.

At your first appointment you will see one of our hepatology (liver) doctors who will take a detailed history of your symptoms and coordinate the necessary investigations to establish a diagnosis as soon as possible.

This is likely to include several different scans and blood tests, and may also include a liver biopsy. Your treatment options will depend on the diagnosis and could include tablets and other medication, surgery, liver ablation to destroy a tumour, or simple monitoring with advice on lifestyle changes to improve your health. These will be discussed with you in detail at your appointment.

After your appointment

After the initial appointment and relevant investigations you may be discharged back for monitoring and management by your GP.

If we find more advanced liver disease you will be asked to attend regular follow-up appointments with our liver team. Depending on your condition, this will either be in our general liver clinic or one of our specialist clinics.

Patient information leaflets

• Abdominal paracentesis
• Nurse-led pre-assessment clinic (liver unit)

Refer to this service

GP referrals

Please use NHS e-Referrals to refer a patient to our liver services. 

Improving how we work with GPs

We have produced a suggested way for GPs to manage abnormal liver tests prior to referral. This is just a guide to help our GPs and these tests do not necessarily need to be done before making a referral to our liver unit. You can view the suggestion here.

Hepatology advice service for GPs

GPs and practice staff can email or telephone our medical specialists with non-urgent clinical enquiries and to request referral advice through our GP advice service.

The line is open from 12.00 to 14.00 Monday through Friday and most emails are answered within 24 hours (except on weekends and bank holidays).

Phone: 020 3311 6223
Email: hepatologyadvice.imperial@nhs.net

In the case of an emergency or for time-critical queries, GPs should contact the on-call specialist registrar by calling the relevant hospital's switchboard (click here for hospital phone numbers).

The GP advice service is not for advice relating to identifiable patients. Queries relating to specific patient referrals should be directed to the central booking office: 020 3313 5000.

This service is for enquiries from GPs and practice staff only. If you are a patient with an enquiry, please contact our patient advice and liaison service (PALS). For contact details and further information, please visit our PALS page.