The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland group is the 1000 plus surgeons, nurses, and allied professionals who advance the knowledge and treatment of bowel diseases in Britain and Ireland.

A message from the President

Welcome to the website of The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland. If you have just found this website then maybe you or someone close to you has a bowel problem. We recognise that may be difficult for you because bottoms and bowels remain the ultimate taboo.

Coloproctology is a specialty that deals with diseases of the lower part of the intestines. This includes the small intestine, appendix, colon, rectum and anus. Our members treat a variety of conditions such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, functional disorders of the intestine and a variety of conditions of the anus such as haemorrhoids, fissures and infection. People find these things embarrassing and private and difficult to talk about. Early diagnosis is an important step to effective treatment of these conditions, so if you have a problem, tell your GP today and come to see us. Don’t lock you and your worry behind your bathroom door – the NHS has specialist Association of Coloproctology surgeons, doctors and nurses who are trained and equipped to sort out bowel and bottom problems.

The Association has been in existence for 22 years and has grown to include over 1000 members made up of surgeons, specialist nurses, allied medical specialists involved in the treatment of patients with colorectal diseases and members in training.

The Association has a number of aims that can be summarised as follows:

  • Advancing the science and practice of coloproctology for the public to benefit by ensuring that people suffering diseases of the colon rectum andanus receive the best possible treatment available.
  • Promoting best clinical practice in coloproctology amongst members of the medical and allied professions by education and training in the specialty.
  • Providing and disseminating information and advice to healthcare professionals and members of the public on matters relating to coloproctology.
  • Promoting the study and research into coloproctology and facilitating the dissemination of this research by scientific meetings and publication in the medical literature.

I hope you find the information available on this website helpful and enlightening. Information on a variety of common colorectal problems is available as well as links to other relevant websites. The website is undergoing major re-development to increase the functions available. Soon it will be possible to identify colorectal surgeons in any pat of the country which will make it easier for patients and their families to make sure that the surgeon treating them is a member of this professional organisation dedicated to the specialty of Colorectal Surgery.

Graham Williams MCh, FRCS, BSc
President ACPGBI 2012/13

About the president

Graham Williams is the 23rd President of the Association and has been a member of ACPGBI since 1992. He served two terms on the Education and training Committee and was Chairman of this Committee before being elected to the post of President. Graham has worked in Wolverhampton as a consultant colorectal surgeon since 1994 and prior to that was a lecturer in Surgery in Birmingham and a Fellow in colorectal surgery at the University of Minnesota for 2 years.

In his year as President, Graham hopes to continue the work started by his predecessors, Mike Parker and Nigel Scott, on the drive to have colorectal surgery recognised as a sub-specialist interest within General Surgery, firstly by recognition at the time of the final FRCS and CCT and then to re-visit GMC recognition of Colorectal Surgery as a subspecialty in its own right. Secondly, he wants to see the new ACPGBI website fully functional and the ACPGBI database providing a role in making it easier for people to identify and contact genuine colorectal surgeons and specialists. Thirdly, he wants to continue the fine tradition of ACPGBI in organising high quality educational events for the benefit of members and ultimately their patients. Fourthly, he wants to encourage greater involvement in the Association form grass-roots members and increase the contribution of non-surgical members. All this will be done with expert help form the various committee chairmen, the Council of the ACPGBI and Karen Nugent and Asha Senapati, incoming Presidents for the next few years.