Mr Nick Boyle

Nick Boyle is the founder of RefluxUK and one of the country’s leading experts in the management of Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. He leads the Multi-Disciplinary Team. He is based in central London at King Edward VII's Hospital, in the world famous Harley St district, Nuffield Health at St Bartholomew's Hospital in the City of London and in the southeast at Nuffield Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Nick is a specialist laparoscopic, upper Gastro-Intestinal and reflux surgeon. He trained in general surgery and subsequently specialist surgery of the oesophagus and stomach at Guys and St Thomas’ hospitals in London and in laparoscopic surgery at the Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit in Guildford. He graduated from the University of Southampton and was awarded a Master of Surgery degree by London University. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Nick was appointed as a consultant surgeon in 2000.

Nick has become increasingly specialised over many years. He established the first multi-disciplinary team to manage Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease in 2013. He has pioneered new surgical treatments of reflux including LINX® , now having one of the largest series in Europe and RefluxStop which he was the first surgeon to perform in the UK. He also has a special interest in the association between the gastro-intestinal microbiome and reflux symptoms and led the team that published the first scientific report showing that treating specific abnormalities in the GI Biome can help reflux symptoms. He has published widely and become internationally recognised as an expert in the treatment of reflux. He speaks at scientific conferences all over the world and in 2024 was elected president of the European Foregut Society.

In 2015 he established RefluxUK to introduce the multi-disciplinary team approach more widely for the benefit of the hundreds of thousands of people suffering from reflux.

A few facts about reflux from Nick as quoted by:

Each year there are over 60 million NHS prescriptions for the most powerful Proton Pump Inhibitor drugs such as Omeprazole.

This emphasises the fact that reflux is not caused by excessive acid production, but rather failure of the valve mechanism. This valve mechanism normally prevents the reflux of stomach contents into the oesophagus and up into the throat.

Some drugs actually stop acid production. H2 blockers including Ranitidine and Cimetidine can be bought over the counter. Their effect tends to wear off over time and so are less helpful as continuous treatment. Earlier this month both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published their decisions to review the presence of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in medicines containing the ranitidine (also known as Zantac).

NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer) on the basis of animal studies.

The most powerful antacids are called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and include Omeprazole and Lanzoprazole. They should be taken half an hour or so before eating and reserved for patients who have more significant long-term symptoms, although low dose packs are available over the counter from chemists. Several studies published in recent years have linked these drugs with a variety of problems including mineral and vitamin deficiencies, gastro-intestinal infections, premature death, stomach cancer and bone fractures. However, at the moment, these drugs are generally regarded as being safe.