A gastroenterologist is a specialist with expertise in the disorders and diseases that affect the digestive system which includes the gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestines, rectum and anus) and biliary organs (liver, bile ducts, pancreas and gallbladder). The digestive disorders and issues that a gastroenterologist treats include:

• Unexplained changes in bowel habits, including diarrhoea, constipation and blood in the stool
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Heartburn
• Haemorrhoids
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Pancreatitis
• Ulcers

Gastroenterologists are trained to perform a number of procedures used to help diagnose and treat these conditions, such as upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy and the various endoscopic techniques needed to visualize the digestive system.