Providing the best care and treatments for patients with hernias

Harrogate Hernia is a specialist provider of hernia care for patients in Harrogate and the surrounding areas of North Yorkshire.

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Specialist provider of care for patients with Hernias from Harrogate and the surrounding areas of North Yorkshire.

Hernias affecting the abdominal wall are a common problem which, without treatment, tend to get worse and can lead to significant complications.

The longer that hernias are left untreated, the greater the risk of complications arising.

Our aim at Harrogate Hernia is to provide the best care and treatments for patients with suffering from a hernia so that they can return to full health as quickly as possible and prevent future problems from arising.

Hernias of the abdominal wall

What is a hernia?

A hernia is a protrusion of an internal organ through an area of weakness of the tummy (abdominal) wall. It most commonly presents as a lump or a bump which can be uncomfortable or even painful.

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What is a hernia?

Where does herniation occur?

There are several sites of potential herniation that can affect the abdominal wall.

The groin is the most common site for herniation and can arise from both either the inguinal or femoral regions. Other commonly affected areas include the navel (umbilicus) or upper tummy (epigastric) areas. Hernias can also arise at sites of previous operations (incisional) or adjacent to the site of a stoma. Less commonly, herniation can occur to the side of the abdomen (Spigielian) or the lumbar region of the back.

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Where does herniation occur?

Why is it important to treat hernias?

Without treatment, hernias tend to get bigger and more problematic. It is best to treat hernias sooner rather than later, and to prevent a ‘controlled’ issue becoming an emergency. Complications arising from hernias are an emergency, and these include the hernia not being able to return the abdomen (incarceration), the bowel within it becoming blocked (obstruction) or the bowel having it’s blood supply restricted (strangulation) causing it to die and perforate.

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Where does herniation occur?

How can hernias be treated?

In most cases, hernias are best treated with surgery. However, surgery is not always appropriate nor necessary and this can only be determined clinically for each individual patient. Other treatments can include supportive garments or, in patients with very small hernias with no symptoms, no surgery may be advices at that time.

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How can hernias be treated?

What are the risks of hernia surgery?

There is no treatment without risk, and for each individual patient the risks and benefits of surgery must be balanced. Where surgery is a treatment option being considered, patients receive full and personalised counselling as well as a patient information leaflet for further reading.

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What are the risks of hernia surgery?

Mr Iestyn Shapey

BMedSc (Healthcare Ethics and Law), MBChB, MSc (Distinction), PhD, FRCS, LRSM

Iestyn Shapey is a specialist in providing hernia care and practices as a Consultant General Surgeon at both The Duchy Hospital, Harrogate, and St James’ University Hospital, Leeds. He received a broad training in hernia surgery from leading experts across the North-West of England and offers both keyhole (laparoscopic) and open surgery for hernia.

In addition to hernia surgery, Mr Shapey provides specialist care for patients with gallbladder, bile duct and pancreatic disorders.

Mr Shapey graduated from the University of Birmingham with degrees in Healthcare Ethics and Law (2006) as well as Medicine and Surgery (2008). Here, he received the Sir Arthur Thompson scholarship to support his work leading to a thesis on the ethico-legal basis of user-fees for patients attending state funded and non-governmental organisation funded hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thereafter, Mr Shapey was awarded the Prieskel prize by the Royal College of Surgeons of England to support his further study of trauma surgery at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg(2007).

As a post-graduate, Mr Shapey studied for a Masters degree in Surgical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh which was awarded with Distinction(2011). As the highest scoring student in his year, he was also awarded the Lister medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for his work on Liver and Kidney Transplantation. In 2016, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh funded his pioneering work in pancreatic and islet transplantation, which led to further substantial funding in the form of a Clinical Research Training Fellowship from the Medical Research Council (2017).

Mr Shapey’s work on determining the optimal selection processes for pancreatic transplantation through the use of clinical data on metabolic and glycaemic control in combination with liquid biopsies was awarded the Norman Tanner medal by the Royal Society of Medicine (2017), a PhD from the University of Manchester (2019) and the Syme Medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2021). His work has been widely published in peer reviewed academic journals.

Now, as an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds, Mr Shapey is applying his knowledge of metabolism, glycaemic control and liquid biopsies to all aspects of pancreatic disease including cancer, pancreatitis and diabetes.

Our patients say

Dear Mr Shapey, I would just like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks for your expertise in carrying out my procedure. For the amazing success, quick recovery and fantastic results. Thank you also for seeing me so quickly and arranging my operation with great speed. I am so very grateful.
Mr Shapey, I just want to say a huge thank you to you and all your team. I was pleasantly surprised at how well I got over the surgery – you must be good! Carry on with the excellent work.
Dear Mr Shapey, Just a note to express appreciation for the excellent surgery and aftercare that I have benefitted from. The speed of my recovery bears testimony to this.

Ready to find relief from the symptoms of hernias?

Get in touch for expert guidance and personalised care. Don’t let hernias hold you back any longer.

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