Dr Ayesha Akbar

Ayesha is a key opinion leader in her field. She has a focus on patient care, communication and satisfaction.

Ayesha Akbar joined the world-renowned National Bowel Hospital, St Mark's Hospital, as a consultant in 2010. Her clinical interests cover general gastroenterology with a focus in
inflammatory bowel disease and functional bowel disorders. As well as a
respected senior clinician at the Trust, she has held several key leadership
positions including Associate Medical Director, Divisional Clinical Director
and Research & Development Director. She is currently Deputy Chief Medical
Officer, and Responsible Officer for LNWH Trust which encompasses St Mark’s,
Northwick Park, Ealing and Central Middlesex Hospitals. Her portfolio
incorporates patient safety, improving outcomes and clinical pathways, managing performance and governance amongst others

As well as being an expert in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, she has an interest in abdominal pain and irritable bowel
syndrome, especially in the overlap cases with inflammatory bowel disease. She
also has experience in a wide range of GI disorders including bloating, reflux,
constipation and diarrhoea, and is proficient at performing gastroscopy,
colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy procedures.  Ayesha is actively involved in education,
teaching and research. She was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of
Physicians in 2015. Ayesha held the role of national Education chair for the
British Society of Gastroenterology for 3 years. She is a national clinical
advisor for gastroenterology for the GIRFT programme in NHS England. She has experience in Transition clinics and her practice also includes young adults (16-18 year olds).

Ayesha studied medicine at the University of Manchester and was awarded an Honours degree. She has an outstanding academic record graduating top of her class and gaining several distinctions and honours along with prestigious prizes. She undertook her specialist training in general medicine and gastroenterology in London and has gained valuable experience from leading institutions including Hammersmith Hospital,
Royal London Hospital, University College Hospital London and St James’s
University Hospital, Leeds.

Her research work at Imperial College London gained her a PhD entitled “Molecular mechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity in the colon.” She has published in several peer
reviewed journals. She frequently lectures to a wide variety of health care
professionals at national and international meetings which she thoroughly enjoys
and contributes to advisory boards as a key opinion leader. She has been a
clinical advisor on a NICE panel and involved in local IBD guidelines.

One of her key drivers is patient care to which she is highly committed and has
excellent feedback from her 360 degree feedback questionnaires both from
colleagues and patients; a feedback quote reads “ Ayesha is inspiring and is an
exceptional leader in a very challenging and often competitive and pressured
environment. She sets an excellent example of hard work and commitment to her
patients and always gives 100% excellence whilst remaining grounded and calm
even in crisis situations. She is creative and innovative and empowering and
very supportive of her staff and fosters a positive attitude wherever she is. She manages her responsibilities and challenges with energy and enthusiasm,
and it is a privilege to work with her.”

Diseases, Medical Tests and Treatments

• Endoscopy
• Gastroscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn's disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Reflux
• Bloating
• Polyps
• Iron Deficiency Anaemia
• Medical management of gallstones
• Haemorrhoids
• Diverticular disease