GMC Number: 6025672

Year of first qualification: 2001, University of Bristol

Specialty: Respiratory Medicine

Clinical interest: Adult respiratory Medicine, Lung Cancer

Secretary: Tracey Ayshford

Telephone: 0117 414 2016

Email: Respiratoryadmin@nbt.nhs.uk 

GMC Number: 6076946

Year of first qualification: 2003, University of Bristol

Specialty: Gastroenterology & General Internal Medicine

Clinical interest:  Inflammatory bowel disease,  General gastroenterology,  Endoscopy, Barrett’s oesophagus

Secretary: Sally Bale

Telephone: 0117 414 6353

Dr Leonard Griffiths is a Gastroenterologist with broad interests including general gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and endoscopy.

He qualified in 2003 from the University of Bristol, trained in the South West region and became a Consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust in 2017. He previously held lead roles in Audit and Education and is now the Clinical Lead for Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Dr Griffiths is an endoscopy trainer, and accredited as a Bowel Cancer Screening Programme endoscopist. He works with his colleagues including IBD nurses striving to increase standards in IBD care. Dr Griffiths has an interest in computers and IT systems, and how these might improve information availability and workflow, with several projects ongoing.

In terms of research, Dr Griffiths received a PhD from the University of Bath Department of Biochemistry for his research into Barrett’s oesophagus (a pre-cancerous condition of the food pipe). This work led to a research trial in Barrett’s oesophagus where he was the Principle Investigator.

Dr Leonard Griffiths is a member of:

• British Society of Gastroenterology
• Royal College of Physicians
• British Society for Developmental Biology

GMC Number: 6102273

Year of first qualification: 2001, Medical University of Warsaw

Specialty: Neurology

Clinical interests: Movement Disorders, Deep Brain Stimulation, Botulinum injections for dystonia

Secretary: Laura Martin

Telephone: 0117 414 6690

Dr Konrad Szewczyk-Krolikowski joined the North Bristol NHS Trust as a Consultant Neurologist in September 2016.

His main interest is Movement Disorders, particularly parkinsonism, dystonias, including treatment with botulinum toxin injections and deep brain stimulation.

He completed his specialty training in Plymouth and Exeter and did a DPhil degree on functional imaging changes in Parkinson’s Disease in Oxford.

AAC WEST is commissioned by NHS England to provide an AAC service to the South West of England

We provide a service to the following counties:

• Gloucestershire
• South Gloucestershire
• Bristol
• Bath and North East Somerset
• Somerset
• Wiltshire
• Devon
• Cornwall

Please be aware that the patients GP practice must be within the boundaries of one of the listed counties, in order for us to accept the referral.

AAC WEST do not cover the following counties:

• Dorset - for more information please contact the Ace Centre based in Oxfordshire   http://acecentre.org.uk/
• Herefordshire - for more information please contact Access to Communication Technogy (ACT)  based in Birmingham http://www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/patients-public/rehabilitation/act/
• Wales- for more information please contact the Rockwood based in Cardiff 

Elizabeth Luckett 
Lead for Adult Screening and Immunisation Public Health England

Mr Devan Thavarajan
Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Clinical Director (North Bristol NHS Trust)

Teresa Robinson
Consultant vascular Scientist, Ultrasound Lead (University Hospitals Bristol)

Lila Elliott
Clinical Skills Trainer (North Bristol NHS Trust)

Michelle Britton
Specialist Vascular Nurse, Nurse Practitioner (North Bristol NHS Trust)

Jude Day
Specialist Vascular Nurse, Nurse Practitioner (North Bristol NHS Trust)

Shona Marriage
Programme Coordinator

Steve Seaton
Programme Coordinator/Administrator

Roland Keedwell
Patient Representative

Screening Technicians
Billie Kasht
Emma Bodman
Audrey Cook
Sarah Maitland

We have an experienced team here at North Bristol NHS Trust dedicated to giving you the best care and achieving your weight and health goals.

WAMS Service Lead and Consultant Physician

Hassan Kahal

Consultant Physician
Fleur Talbot
Georgina Russell
Kathryn Lonnen

Psychologists
Emma Kewin
Jess Munafo

Assistant Psychologist
Karin Buschenfeld

Dietitians
Rachel Elliott
Marie Bird
Julia Wilkinson

Co-ordinators
Jess Relph

Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
Faye Taylor

Bariatric Pharmacist
Danielle Wigg

Following your initial assessment, you may be offered individual appointments with a psychologist. These appointments may be prior to a group, in place of a group, or following your attendance at the group. You will be included in these decisions so that you receive appropriate support.

A psychologist can help you to better understand your concerns that may be contributing to your difficulty losing weight and maintaining long-term weight loss. Many people find they have an emotional relationship with food or have simply built up unhelpful habits over time which can be difficult to change. Any individual appointments with psychology will focus on these issues, and aim to help you build alternative ways of coping.

Additionally, there are other services across the region that can provide psychological therapy and we may suggest that you contact them for additional support. This therapy could be an alternative (or more appropriate) source of support to our service, or it could be provided alongside it, depending on your needs. In some cases we may suggest that your GP provides your referral. We will discuss these options with you, if they are appropriate.

Following your initial assessment, depending on your circumstances, you may be offered individual appointments with the dietitian. These appointments with the dietitian may be prior to a group, in replace of a group, or following your attendance at the group. You will be included in these decisions.

During your appointment with the dietitian, you can expect to discuss:

• The key points of a balanced diet.
• Portion sizes and techniques to help with reducing them.
• Planning and preparation of meals.
• Helpful snacks.
• Triggers to eating.
• Energy balance.
• Managing hunger.
• Problem solving.

Our groups are called ‘Mood and Food’ and are currently run from Southmead Hospital for our Bristol patients and from Melksham Town Hall for our Wiltshire patients.

The Mood and Food groups are a great opportunity for you to meet with others from similar situations and to share and learn from each other’s experiences.

Mood and Food groups involve 8 sessions run either weekly or fortnightly. Each session lasts 2hours and 15minutes and we ensure there is a break half way through each session.

The groups are supportive, non-judgemental and take into account your individual circumstances. They are structured to allow time for both information giving and discussions. Each week will focus on a different theme and will typically build on previous topics.

The group content provides:

• New ways of managing thoughts and feelings without turning to food, to help you feel more in control of your eating and weight
• Interactive dietary education and advice to include portion sizes, planning meals, energy balance and managing your hunger
• A weight loss surgery session for those individuals who wish to consider progressing on to bariatric weight loss surgery.

Following the completion of a group, there are frequent drop-in sessions where you can weigh in and talk through any challenges that you may be experiencing with the facilitators.

Previous group members have told us:

‘’I feel more confident in my approach to weight loss”

“Has helped me make conscious decisions about my food and lifestyle.”

“Helped me so much to mentally prepare & learn about foods and reasons why I eat.”

“I now believe I am in control and know how to look at what is making me want to eat.”

“I have felt empowered and liked the positivity of the group and staff.”

Your first appointment will be at Southmead Hospital, Bristol where you will meet with the Consultant and Dietitian for an initial assessment. As a result, please plan to be at the hospital for approximately two hours. Some people may require an assessment with our Psychologist, which will be done at a later date.

The assessment will focus on understanding how your weight is impacting on you and consider your motivation and commitment to change. We will also check that you have no reversible medical cause of obesity, or other medical problems that need treatment. Further tests may be arranged as necessary.

Following this assessment, we will discuss options with you and if appropriate we will arrange for you to attend sessions around emotional eating and/ or nutrition. The sessions are usually in groups but individual sessions with a psychologist and/or dietitian can be provided if there is a reason groups are not suitable.

At the end of six months, you will be reassessed by the Consultant. At this time we will discuss with you your options, which may include:

• Being discharged from the service
• Being offered a further 6 months of lower level support from us
• Referral to the Tier 4 Bariatric service for weight loss surgery. Referral for surgery can only be made if all the team are in agreement regarding your readiness for surgery; you have made relevant behavioural changes and met your 5% weight loss target.

The results of your reassessment will be sent to your GP and/or the Tier 4 Bariatric service if we agree to refer you there.

If you have not met the 5% weight loss target, reasons for this will be explored with you. If there are other medical or psychological reasons which mean you are not ready or able to engage, this will be discussed with you and the information sent to your GP.

If you are unable to attend an appointment or group session please let us know. If you do not let us know then you will be discharged from the service and a letter will be sent to notify you and your GP.