Dr John O'Donohue

Dr John O'Donohue is a Consultant Gastroenterologist in London, UK. He has over 20 years’ experience and expertise in gastroenterology at consultant level.

What is important to him in his Practice

'Communication skills are particularly important to me.  I pride myself on being a good
listener, first developing a rapport with patients before making a diagnosis
and agreeing a treatment plan with them. I also enjoy performing endoscopy well
and making it a comfortable and not an off-putting experience. It gives me
great satisfaction to see patients get the best treatment, and I take great
pride in my excellent feedback from my patients’.

Training and Qualifications

Dr O'Donohue qualified from University of Dublin, Trinity College, in 1987. He was awarded
the Blaney Gold medal for First in Medicine, St James' Hospital, in the final
medical examinations in 1987.

Dr O'Donohue completed pre-registration training in Dublin before he moved to London in 1990 to undertake his specialist Registrar training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the world-famous King's College Hospital Liver Unit and at St.
Bartholomew's/Homerton Hospital, London. He undertook laboratory and clinical
research in King’s College Hospital resulting in numerous original publications
and his post-graduate MD thesis, awarded for original research including
numerous original publications in the field of primary biliary cholangiopathy. After
this he completed his specialist training as a Senior Registrar at the Western
Infirmary, Glasgow, gaining expensive experience in inflammatory bowel disease.

He then returned to London as a Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist in the NHS in 1998, at Lewisham and King’s College Hospital, practising both in General Medicine and Gastroenterology. He started private practice in 2000.

Clinical Experience and Practice

Dr O’Donohue is dual trained as a physician in General Medicine as well as his specialty of gastroenterology. He has a comprehensive gastroenterology practice, both in the NHS and in private practice, and deals with a wide range of diseases of both the upper and lower digestive tract, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel
disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), investigation of iron-deficiency anaemia,
indigestion and heartburn.

Performing high-quality and comfortable endoscopy is a particular interest of his. He has extensive experience in endoscopy and receives referrals for advanced
procedures from other doctors, including complex (large) colonic polyps. He
performs a comprehensive range of endoscopic procedures, including gastroscopy,
colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, ERCP and video capsule endoscopy of the small
bowel. He offers patients a choice between local anaesthetic, conscious (mild)
sedation, or deep sedation depending on their preference and expectations.

Management Interests

He is involved in improving and developing endoscopy services nationally and internationally. His is an assessor and quality assurance lead in the JAG (Joint Accreditation Group) for endoscopy, having previously been Chair of the Accreditation Unit at JAG. He is involved in quality assurance of colonoscopy in the Bowel Cancer Screening service in the NHS, as Professional Clinical Advisor for London.

Dr O’Donohue has medical management responsibilities as Medical Director of Lewisham Hospital and Responsible Officer and deputy Chief Medical Officer for his NHS Trust, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. He leads medical engagement in clinical digital technology as Chief Clinical Information Officer. 

Teaching and Training

He has been actively involved in teaching and training at both undergraduate and post-graduate level. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College London and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. He teaches, trains and examines medical
students and post-graduate doctors, and contributes to the writing and quality assurance of post-graduate examinations for UK physicians (MRCP examinations) and the gastroenterology specialist exit examinations (European Specialty Examination in Gastroenterology and Hepatology).

Personal

When he's not being a gastroenterologist, he enjoys hiking, skiing and most of all spending time with his family. This includes four children, three of whom are now taller than him, and three dogs, two of whom are well behaved.