A new clinic has been established at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital to provide greater support to people with irritable bowel syndrome.
Known as the dietitian-first functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) clinic, it aims to empower patients to manage their chronic gut symptoms with diet and lifestyle modification.
As the only dedicated FGID service in the state, the clinic offers a combination of diagnosis, supported by non-invasive intestinal ultrasound and evidence-based diet therapy.
More than 250 patients have been through the clinic so far, with many reporting that this approach improves the chronic symptoms which they have lived with for years.
In fact, dietician Samantha Plush said one patient William reported that “it has been positively life-changing”.
“I feel much more educated and confident in my health and have come out of this process physically and mentally in better health,” William reported.
Ms Plush said the clinic is one of only a few in SA to offer intestinal ultrasound.
“Intestinal ultrasound is a non-invasive technology that not only aids in diagnosis but also serves as a powerful educational tool to boost patient engagement and validate their symptoms,” she said.
“This innovative approach enhances the care experience and helps patients better understand their conditions.
This referral-only clinic has been made possible thanks The Hospital Research Foundation Group’s Mitchell McGrath Fellowship, awarded to leading gastroenterologist Associate Professor Robert Bryant. Dietitian Samantha Plush works with consultant gastroenterologist Ryan Mathias to deliver the clinic.
Designed to bridge the gap in care in CALHN, the clinic reduces prolonged outpatient wait times, ensuring patients receive timely, safe, and effective treatment.
