“He goes the extra mile, sometimes I suspect going way beyond what he is paid to do. His kindness, skill and professionalism would make me reccomend him to a relative or friend.”
Patient treated at Northwick Park Hospital
Areas of Expertise
Professor Brian Saunders is a highly-experienced gastroenterologist and endoscopist who regularly performs a range of diagnostics, including:
- Colonoscopy
- Polypectomy
- Advanced tissue resection; Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
- Gastroscopy
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Capsule enteroscopy
Some of the most common conditions he treats are:
- Bowel cancer screening and prevention
- Colonic polyps
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Dyspepsia and gastrointestinal reflux
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
Career Highlights
As a specialist gastrointestinal endoscopist and luminal gastroenterologist, Professor Brian Saunders main clinical interests are the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of intestinal diseases through flexible endoscopy. He has a particular interest in diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy – especially polyp detection and advanced polypectomy; endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).
Professor Saunders, MBBS, MD, FRCP, FRCS; qualified from University College Hospital in 1988 and was trained in general medicine and then gastroenterology and endoscopy, in London, Darlington and Melbourne, Australia. He achieved MRCP in 1991 (FRCP 2002) and was awarded an MD from the University of London in 1996 for his work into ‘making colonoscopy easier’. His MD thesis was based around the magnetic imaging system, which has now been adopted as standard practice in many endoscopy units throughout the world. This work formed the basis of his award of the Hopkin’s Endoscopy prize from the British Society of Gastroenterology, in 1996. After his appointment as consultant physician and senior lecturer at St. Mark’s Hospital in 1997 he was promoted to Adjunct Professor of Endoscopy (Imperial College) in 2013 and Professor of Endoscopy Practice in 2018.
Professor Saunders joined OneWelbeck in 2018 for the opportunity to work closely with a group of outstanding colleagues and clinicians, and an ambitious management team dedicated to create a state-of-the-art facility for the delivery of care centrered around flexible endoscopy. “This was a once in a life-time opportunity to be involved in something really special”.
Professor Saunders brings his unparalleled specialist experience and innovative approaches to colonoscopy, to the OneWelbeck team.
Get to know Professor Saunders…
OneWelbeck represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of endoscopy practice in the private sector; modern, high tech. and completely patient-centred. Each procedure will be tailored to the individual patient in terms of preparation, sedation and equipment needs.
Professor Brian Saunders
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What attracted you to medicine?
As I say to the next generation, there is nothing like the feeling of using your skills to help or reassure patients. In many ways, endoscopy practice epitomises medicine: it is a great combination of the latest technology, that if delivered with precision and compassion can be transformational in terms of diagnosis and prevention; you need to be a good listener as well as have the hand skills and the knowledge –it combines the practical and the intellectual.
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What encouraged you to specialise in your chosen field?
I did endoscopy at a very early stage as a house doctor, plus I liked that it was a practical skill that was becoming more and more important in modern medicine. I then did my research fellowship into making colonoscopy easier. At that time, I was one of the only people doing an MD thesis in colonoscopy and I realised how difficult it can be to do it well. Although I have done many colonoscopies I always challenge myself to do the next procedure even better.
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What keeps you busy in your personal life?
Bringing up our three children – which is still an ongoing process! I try to keep fit and enjoy trail running and I like to play cricket and tennis. I also like chess for some mental relaxation, as well as fishing.
