Health information

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening swelling in the aorta (the main artery in the body). It can be repaired with surgery to replace the weak section of the aorta with a piece of manmade tubing (a graft).

The procedure to treat an abscess by draining it and removing the infected tissue with a local or general anaesthetic.

Managing pain caused by Achilles tendinopathy and exercises to strengthen the tendon that connects the back of the lower part of your leg muscles to the heel bone.

Our 3 acupuncture clinics help with the side effects of cancer and its treatments, such as hot flushes, pain, feeling sick, sleep problems, anxiety, dry mouth and nerve damage.

How we diagnose and treat mild or severe cases of acute pancreatitis. This is when the pancreas becomes inflamed or swollen over a short time. Sometimes, your treatment might include surgery to remove the gallbladder (a small pouch under the liver).

Adalimumab is medicine to treat moderate to severe, and active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

How the AMBER care bundle helps to improve the quality of care for people who are seriously unwell and may not get better.

Amitriptyline is a medicine that can be used for treating chronic (long-term) pain in the face.

An anaesthetic stops you from feeling pain during an operation, procedure or treatment. Find out about local, regional and general anaesthetics.

Overview of treatment for anal fissures, which are small cracks or tears in the skin of your anus (where poo leaves your bottom). 

An anal fistula is a tunnel that develops between the bowel and the skin of the anus (bottom). It is treated with surgery.

Appendicectomy is surgery to treat appendicitis, when your appendix has become inflamed, infected or ruptured.

Athlete’s foot is a very common fungal infection that affects the feet. You can get athlete’s foot from swimming pools, gym changing rooms and showers, some shoes and socks. It's more likely if you have sweaty feet. Find out more about the symptoms and treatment for athlete's foot.

Taking azathioprine or mercaptopurine for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including how they work, other medicines, regular blood tests and side effects.

Azathioprine is a medicine that helps to treat autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a liver condition that's usually life-long. 

How we collect extra samples of tissue and bodily fluids for research to diagnose, prevent and treat conditions. 

What to expect if you take a biologic medicine or advanced therapy for an autoimmune or inflammatory condition. This includes information on screening tests, having your medicine delivered and how to take it.

You are at increased risk of blood clots while in hospital and for 90 days after you leave. It's important to know the symptoms and follow our instructions to lower your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), collectively known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).

You might need bone graft surgery before having dental implants. This increases the amount of bone available if you do not have enough bone in your jaw for us to put in the implants.

Risk assessment service to review personal and family history for an inherited tendency of developing bowel cancer. 

Personalised cancer care is designed to meet your needs and focus on what matters to you, giving you the care and support you need to live as well as possible during and after treatment.

Carbamazepine is a medicine that can be used to treat chronic (long-term) pain in the face.

Cardiac (heart) MRI scans use strong magnetic fields and radiowaves to produce detailed pictures of inside your body.  

This information explains how you can look after your feet and toenails. It contains information on checking your feet, cleaning them and how to cut your toenails. 

Cataract surgery replaces your cloudy lens with an artificial lens. This procedure takes about 30 minutes and is done under local anaesthetic.

We use a cystoscopy under general anaesthetic to check if cervical cancer has spread to other part of the body. This is called staging.  

Chemoprevention is for people who have been assessed by a family history or genetics specialist and have a confirmed increased risk of developing breast cancer than in the general population.

A chest drain lets fluid or air leave your body and helps your breathing. Read more about having a chest drain and looking after it. 

Videos about the assessment process for a cochlear implant at St Thomas' hearing implant centre.

How to collect blood using a lancing device and blood spot card if you are being treated in our inherited metabolic diseases clinics.

This test looks at how your large bowel (colon) is working using X-rays after swallowing some capsules. It can be used to diagnose conditions. 

A colonoscopy is a routine test to examine the lining of your bowel, also called the large intestine or colon.

Instructions to prepare for your colonoscopy, including medicines, diet and bowel preparation from 4 days before your appointment.

Personalised follow-up (sometimes called PFU) is how we support you after cancer treatment. Our aim is to give you the care and support that are important to you.

Compass is an online treatment programme. It's for people with long-term physical health conditions, who experience low mood or anxiety, or find it difficult to manage their condition.

This information explains what happens, and what you should do, if the contrast dye injection you had for an MRI or CT scan leaks under your skin. This is called extravasation.

Signs of malnutrition and how to make sure you get the nutrients you need, including what you can do if you're at higher risk.

A guide to help you recover from coronavirus (COVID-19) and manage the symptoms that affect you.

Information for people at highest risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus (COVID-19) about the treatment available. Guidance about autumn boosters for people who are eligible.

If your family member is in critical care, they might find it hard to communicate for different reasons. There are ways to help you communicate with your family member. 

Advice on how to do everyday activities using only one hand including personal care, washing, dressing, eating and cooking.

Delirium can be treated at hospital or managed at home. This condition can be frightening for the person and their loved ones. It's important to know the signs and understand what can help.

How to prepare for a dental cone beam CT scan of your jaw and teeth, including the benefits and what to expect.

How to prepare for dental day surgery under general anaesthetic and understanding what happens afterwards.

Dental implants are long-lasting artificial replacements for your tooth roots to help support dentures, crowns (caps) or bridges. 

Dental surgery can cause side effects like pain, bleeding and swelling. You can avoid an infection by looking after your mouth after surgery. 

Information for people with diabetes who have a small appetite. This covers eating a well-balanced diet that is high in energy (calories) and protein, and helps to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

Healthy eating guidance to help prevent and manage the condition reactive hypoglycaemia. This is when you have a low blood sugar level about 2 to 5 hours after eating.

Information if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. This explains your healthcare during pregnancy and how you and your baby can stay healthy.

Information for people with diabetes about snacks low in carbohydrate. These can help if you are trying to keep your blood sugar levels stable or within a target range, but feel hungry between meals.

This information explains the care that you can expect for your diabetes while you are in hospital.

How medicines called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists help you to manage type 2 diabetes, together with healthy lifestyle changes.

If you take insulin to manage your diabetes, it is important to use it safely. You need to have the right insulin, in the right dose (amount), in the right way, at the right time. You also need to store insulin and dispose of used needles safely.

Information for anybody who has diabetic eye screening using Tropicamide 1% eye drops. It is important to know the possible side effects until your sight returns to normal.

Who needs diabetic eye screening in pregnancy, how often, what happens during the test and possible results.

Eating and drinking after surgery for weight loss (bariatric or metabolic) including after sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass or gastric band.

DOACs thin your blood to treat atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. They can be used instead of warfarin but, as they are taken as a fixed dose, you do not need regular blood tests.

Our discharge medicines service is a free service when you leave hospital. It puts you in touch with your community pharmacist. They talk to you about your medicines and help you to feel confident about taking them at home.

Duloxetine is a medicine that can be used for treating chronic (long-term) pain in the face.

Electrochemotherapy is a treatment for cancer and some other health conditions. It combines chemotherapy and a small electrical current. Your healthcare team may call it ECT.

An endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) is a procedure to remove any lesions (abnormal or damaged cells), polyps (small growths) and specific tumours in the GI tract. 

Endoscopic muscosal resection (EMR) is a gastroscopy procedure to remove pre-cancerous cells, or small areas of cancer, without the need for major surgery. 

An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) lets us examine the lining of the food pipe (oesophagus), stomach and small intestine (duodenum) and the organs that surround them. 

An EUS can treat an infected gallbladder or blocked bile duct. It uses a flexible tube called an endoscope down your food pipe (oesophagus) into your stomach and the first part of your small intestine.

People who have had HBV virus  can be given entecavir medicine to stop the virus returning.  

Entonox is a mixture of gas and air. You can breathe in Entonox to help with pain and anxiety during some bowel procedures in the endoscopy unit.

An ERCP is used to diagnose and treat problems with the biliary system. Find out more about what an ERCP is and why it is done. 

Guidance for older adults on why it is important to keep active, how much exercise to do, staying motivated and finding local classes.

How to express breastmilk for your baby who is premature or sick using your hand or a pump.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a temporary life support system for people whose lungs have stopped working properly.

If you have a problem at home, or are worried about your condition, please contact the day surgery unit.

Guy’s Hospital, phone 020 7188 1738, Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 7pm

St Thomas’ Hospital, Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 8pm.

Or you can contact a specialist nurse in the pain management unit, phone 020 7188 4714, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

FMT (also called stool transplantation) can treat diarrhoea caused by a type of bacteria called clostridium difficile (C diff) and symptoms caused by ulcerative colitis.

Information for people who have had a fall or are worried about falling, and their family members or carers. This covers why you might fall, how to prevent falls and how to get support.

What to expect when you have a fibroscan to measure inflammation in your liver.

How to get a fit note from your hospital doctor as an inpatient or outpatient.

A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure to look at your large bowel (colon). It uses a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope. This examination helps us to diagnose your symptoms, or check the condition of your bowel, or take samples (biopsies) and remove polyps if needed. 

Fungal nail infections usually affect toenails, but you can get them on your fingernails too. Symptoms can include the nail being soft, crumbly, discoloured or thicker than usual. Find out how to treat a fungal nail infection.

Gabapentin is a medicine that can be used for treating chronic (long-term) pain in the face.

Surgery to remove your gallbladder (a small sac below your liver) is called a cholecystectomy. You might need this surgery if you have small stones called gallstones that cause pain or complications.

How we adjust your gastric band to make sure it's working properly by making it tighter or looser, and what you need to do afterwards.

A gastroscopy is when we examine the upper part of your digestive system to diagnose or monitor conditions.

If you have had diagnostic genetic or predictive tests for a condition inherited from your family, you may need to disclose this information when taking out new insurance.

Testing to discover if your prostate cancer is inherited, and if germline genetic testing is available for you and your family.

Instructions for looking after a wound that has been glued. 

Gluteal strengthening is when you do exercises to make the muscles in your bottom (gluteal muscles) stronger. These muscles are important for posture, movement and balance.

We might recommend Grazax tablets if you are severely allergic to grass pollen. You need to start treatment before the grass pollen season.

Specialist deep cleaning can help with gum disease and symptoms such as red, swollen, sore and bleeding gums. It can also help with teeth feeling loose and the freshness of your breath.

What to expect after treatment for gynaecological cancer, including clinic appointments and support from cancer clinical nurse specialists. 

HALO radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment that uses radiowaves to destroy abnormal area of cells (dysplasia) in the lining of your food pipe (oesophagus). 

If you have HIV and your condition is stable, you can have fewer appointments each year for tests and reviewing your medicine. This is called the stable patient pathway. It means that you can spend less time travelling and at the hospital.  

Symptoms to look out for if someone has had a head injury and information about recovering.

Information about the hepatitis B vaccination for people at increased risk of getting hepatitus B from their kidney condition.

A hepatitis test is offered to all people who need a blood test in the emergency department.

We treat hernias with keyhole or open surgery so they do not get bigger or more painful. This is usually day surgery using general anaesthetic. It's important you know how to prepare.

A guide for living with HS and coping with the emotional and practical effects. It includes how to manage difficult thoughts and feelings.

Using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat prostate cancer.

If you need a blood test while you are in A&E then we'll look for HIV infection in your blood in line with NICE guidance.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is medicine used to treat menopausal symptoms. Find information on how HRT is taken, the side effects and the risks.

Information for parents and carers whose baby is at increased risk of having low blood sugar including how we care for them and signs of hypoglycaemia.

A hysteroscopy is a procedure to examine the lining and shape of your womb (uterus). It can help find the cause of problems such as heavy vaginal bleeding and irregular periods. Sometimes we can treat things like fibroids or polyps at the same time.

Why we induce labour and ways of inducing labour, including by softening your cervix using a pessary, gel or balloon catheter, or by breaking your waters or using a hormone IV drip.

An indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) is a small, soft and flexible tube. We put the tube into your chest to remove fluid from around your lungs. This helps with breathlessness.

We treat inguinal hernias in your groin with keyhole or open surgery so they do not get bigger or more painful. This is usually day surgery using general anaesthetic. It's important you know how to prepare.

A guide to injecting the cancer medicine bortezomib at home. This includes information about how the medicine works and tips for using it safely.

A guide to injecting the cancer medicine cytarabine at home. This includes information about how the medicine works and tips for using it safely.

A guide to injecting the cancer medicine denosumab at home. This includes information about how the medicine works and tips for using it safely.

A guide to injecting the cancer medicine trastuzumab at home. This includes information about how the medicine works and tips for using it safely.

If you’re having electrochemotherapy your healthcare team will ask for your permission to store your data in the InspECT registry. The InspECT registry is a list of information about people who have electrochemotherapy. It helps researchers understand the short and long term effect of electrochemotherapy on cancer.

The causes of pruritus ani, which is continual itching or irritation around the bottom (anus), and treatments for this condition.

Surgery can correct any imbalance between the upper and lower jaw and allow people to bite their teeth together.

Information for people who have been in the emergency department (A&E) for pain from kidney stones (renal colic).

What to expect if you come to a knee osteoarthritis education and management session. This session gives you information on how to manage your condition and symptoms.

Lamotrigine is a medicine that can be used for treating chronic (long-term) pain in the face.

Our guide to planning and sharing how you want to be cared for in the future or at the end of your life. It covers having a conversation, how to record your wishes, and how advance care planning can help you and your loved ones.

Testing to see if you have a fault (mutation) in the gene TP53 which causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome and if it runs in your family. 

This is a medical device for people with chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). It is a small flexible band of titanium beads with magnetic cores.  The beads temporarily separate when you swallow, allowing food and drink to pass into your stomach.

Lithotripsy uses shock waves to treat kidney stones that can be found in your kidney or ureter.

How to manage low back pain and associated stress or anxiety using physiotherapy, exercises and relaxation.

How a daily low dose of aspirin can help if you are at greater risk of pre-eclampsia, a high-blood pressure condition that usually happens towards the end of pregnancy.

An LVA (lymphaticovenous anastomosis) is a procedure you might have at the same time as your axillary lymph node clearance.

Testing to see if you have Lynch syndrome and if it runs in your family. 

Hot flushes can happen if you have hormone deprivation therapy as a treatment for prostate cancer. Our advice will help with managing your symptoms.

A mandibular repositioning appliance (MRA) is a dental device that you wear while you sleep. It can help to treat snoring and sleep apnoea.

Our Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership is a team of local parents and health professionals working together to improve our services and deliver equitable care, so that every pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience is safe, supportive, and empowering.

Information about the support available to manage the side effects of medicines. This can include reviewing your medicines with a GP, asking questions about new medicines and getting support from your local pharmacy.

Questions about your medicines you can ask the doctor, nurse or pharmacist including how and when to take them, side effects and what they do.

Methotrexate is a medicine that helps to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a condition of the gut that's usually life-long.

How MBSR can help you manage your long-term condition and symptoms.

How to avoid and treat mouth problems for people who are receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy and biological therapy drugs to treat cancer. 

Common symptoms of mpox (previously known as monkeypox) and how to treat them.

Mycophenolate is a medicine that helps to treat autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a liver condition that's usually life-long. 

How to use relaxation, applied tension technique and a fear ladder to help you overcome the fear of needles and injections.

NHS and public services for refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants.

A Nissen fundoplication is surgery to treat severe and ongoing acid reflux gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or GORD). You usually have keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery to make a new valve between your food pipe and stomach.

Nortriptyline is a medicine that can be used for treating chronic (long-term) pain in the face.

Instructions on how to use nystatin to treat candida infections for early voice prosthesis failure.

How our clinic can help with high-dose opioid medicines and management of long-term (chronic) pain.

How to use opioid patches safely, including how to apply, change and dispose of them.

Oralvac® Compact are drops that you put under your tongue to treat severe allergies. They are used if your current medicine does not control your symptoms well.

Oxcarbazepine is a medicine that can be used for treating chronic (long-term) pain in the face.

Advice for looking after yourself and returning to normal activities after having a pancreas transplant.

Treatment for cysts in the pancreas, called intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPNM) which could be cancerous and need to be removed or carefully monitored. 

Paracentesis is a procedure to treat a condition called ascites, which is a build-up of fluid in the tummy. It involves putting a plastic tube (drain) into the tummy through the skin.

Acetylcysteine treatment (using SNAP) for paracetamol poisoning and overdose.

A patency capsule is given to people who might have some narrowing of their small bowel. It's a dummy capsule used to make sure that if is safe for you to swallow a video capsule.

You can have surgery to remove the infected tissue of a perianal abscess. This is a painful, swollen area near the opening of your bottom (anus).

Physiotherapy advice and exercises while you are wearing a sling.

What causes piles (haemorrhoids), symptoms, treatment options and lifestyle changes.

Information on treating a pilonidal sinus (a small hole under the skin between the cheeks of your bottom) with surgery.

A guide to having a planned (elective) caesarean birth or C-section. This is surgery to deliver a baby through a cut made in your tummy and womb.

A pleural biopsy is a procedure that takes a sample of the pleura, using a special needle. Read more about having a pleural biopsy. 

Pleurodesis seals the space between your lungs and chest wall to stop fluid collecting. Read more about having pleurodesis. 

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is surgery for a condition called achalasia. This is when the muscles in your food pipe do not work properly. The surgery can help your symptoms and make swallowing easier.

Information on postural hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when you stand up after lying or sitting down). This covers the symptoms and possible causes of the condition, and how it is diagnosed and treated.

Testing to see if you have a fault (mutation) in the gene VHL which causes von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and if it runs in your family. 

Pregabalin is a medicine that can be used for treating chronic (long-term) pain in the face.

Information on how you can reduce the chance of a slip, trip or fall when you are in hospital.

What to expect after prostate cancer surgery, including clinic appointments, blood tests, and support from prostate cancer clinical nurse specialists. 

How to make sure that you have enough protein in your diet before and after your upper gastrointestinal surgery. This is important for wound healing, strength and your recovery.

Symptoms of a rectal prolapse, and the risks and benefits of perineal repair surgery.

This information explains how to redress your foot after having nail surgery or a small procedure on your foot. It also includes information on what to expect after surgery, and when you can return to work and normal activities. 

Sclerotherapy is a procedure to treat various forms of growths of the blood vessels. These growths are called vascular malformations and they are not cancer.

Guidance after having sedation medicines to help you relax.

A SeHCAT scan looks at how well your body absorbs bile salts to digest fats and get rid of toxins in the body, if you have recurring diarrhoea or bile acid malabsorption (BAM).

You or your carer can be responsible for administering your own medicines while you stay in hospital, if we agree that this is safe. 

Sotrovimab medicine for treating coronavirus (COVID-19), including side effects and restrictions.

Instructions to help your wound heal if Steri-Strips have been used.

Steroids is a medicine that helps to treat autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a liver condition that's usually life-long. 

How to look after stitches (sutures).

Information about the stages of having surgery at our hospitals. They include being referred to us, having an outpatient appointment, deciding to have surgery, keeping well while you wait, having a pre-operative assessment, going to hospital and recovering.

You can prevent surgical wound infection by being aware of the signs, looking after your wound and keeping your hands clean.

Regular screening by having a colonoscopy is important for preventing bowel cancer in people who have had IBD for a long time.

Tacrolimus to treat severe asthma and interstitial lung disease (ILD).

If you have a heart condition called aortic stenosis, you might need a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure. This is when we put a new valve inside the narrowed aortic valve in your heart under a local anaesthetic.

Scrotal exploration surgery is emergency treatment for when the testicle is twisted and cuts of the blood supply, usually diagnosed by sudden, severe testicle pain.

You can have testosterone treatment for low sex drive in the menopause at the same time as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It can be particularly helpful for people who had an early menopause.

Thoracocentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between your lungs and chest wall (pleural space). Find out more about having this procedure. 

We do a tilt table test to find why you might feel dizzy or light-headed, or lose consciousness. We check if your symptoms are connected to changes in your heart beat or blood pressure. The test might include a neck massage called a carotid sinus massage.

Total contact cast (TCC) is a treatment for foot conditions, such as a diabetic foot ulcer or Charcot foot. The cast reduces pressure on your foot. Find out more about having a total contact cast, any risks, what to expect if you have one and when you can return to work and daily activities. 

A transnasal endoscopy (TNE) can be used to look at the foodpipe (oesophagus), stomach and small intestine. A thin flexible tube called an endoscope is passed through your nose and down the back of your throat.

A levatorplasty is surgery to repair a rectocele, which is a bulging of the anus (bottom) into the vagina. This surgery strengthens the area by stitching pelvic floor muscles together.

Genetic testing to for non-inherited (somatic) prostate cancer, to help us plan your treatment.

Unlicensed medicines are not officially approved for your condition, but your doctor can prescribe them if they feel that this is safe. 

A video capsule endoscopy (VCE) uses a light and tiny camera on the end to examine your large bowel. In some cases we use a CapsoCam to view the images.

Information about smoking, alcohol, body mass index (BMI), mental health and blood pressure to stay healthy.

Newborn babies have low levels of vitamin K in their blood which is important for blood clotting. Sometimes, this causes vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) which can be serious. A vitamin K injection soon after birth prevents VKDB.

Removing wisdom teeth to treat infection, tooth decay, gum disease and cysts.

Managing a suspected scaphoid (wrist bone) injury if we have seen you in the emergency department and you are having an MRI scan.

Information if we have treated you in the emergency department for a sprained or strained wrist.

XP is a rare, lifelong genetic (inherited) condition. It means that your body cannot repair skin damage caused by ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight.