Mr Martin Gough is a Consultant Endoscopist at HMT St Hugh’s Hospital in Grimsby. He is a general surgeon by background who now specialises in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, with a particular interest in reflux disease and Barrett’s oesophagus. At St Hugh’s he offers outpatient consultations and upper GI endoscopy.

Most people referred for a gastroscopy have been living with something for months. Persistent heartburn, indigestion that antacids stopped touching, food that catches on the way down, or a doctor wanting to rule something out. The test itself takes about ten minutes and answers the question properly, which is usually a relief in itself. Mr Gough has performed thousands of these, trains other doctors to do them, and will tell you plainly what he found.

About Mr Gough

Mr Gough qualified in medicine at the University of Dundee in 1995. He trained in general surgery and upper gastrointestinal surgery, and completed his MD at the University of Sheffield in 2006, researching genetic predisposition in reflux disease and oesophageal cancer. He was appointed as a consultant general surgeon in 2009.

Reflux and upper GI disease have remained his focus ever since. He now specialises in endoscopy, with a particular interest in Barrett’s oesophagus, the cell change that can develop in the lower gullet after years of acid reflux and which needs regular surveillance once diagnosed. He is fully competent in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy including therapeutic techniques, meaning he can treat certain problems during the same procedure rather than referring on.

He is also an endoscopy trainer. He regularly serves as a faculty member on the JAG upper gastrointestinal endoscopy course, JAG being the Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy, the body that sets and accredits endoscopy standards across the UK. He has been a clinical supervisor throughout his consultant career and remains a core member of the regional upper GI cancer multidisciplinary team.

GMC number 4204884

Areas of expertise

Reflux and heartburn

• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• Persistent heartburn and acid reflux
• Barrett’s oesophagus and Barrett’s surveillance
• Oesophagitis
• Hiatus hernia

Stomach and upper digestive symptoms

• Indigestion and dyspepsia
• Stomach and gastric ulcers
• Gastritis
• Helicobacter pylori infection
• Nausea and upper abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss

Swallowing

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Food sticking or catching
• Oesophageal narrowing and strictures

Investigation and diagnosis

• Upper GI symptoms needing investigation
• Iron deficiency anaemia investigation
• Reassurance and rule-out endoscopy
• Second opinion on endoscopy findings