UHNM one of only five NHS Trusts offering pioneering swallowing treatment
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) is now one of only five NHS Trusts in the UK offering a pioneering minimally invasive procedure to help patients with severe swallowing difficulties.
Patients with a pharyngeal pouch and those experiencing swallowing difficulties caused by a tight or overactive cricopharyngeal muscle can now benefit from a new minimally invasive procedure called Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM).
Since the service launched at the Royal stoke University Hospital in December 2025, eight patients have successfully undergone the procedure.
Dr Sarveson Rajkumar, consultant gastroenterologist and endoscopist, said: “This gives hope to people who previously had limited or no treatment options.
“Introducing this service means patients can now access highly specialised treatment closer to home instead of travelling elsewhere, and in some cases it provides an option where there previously wasn’t one.
“Many of these patients have severe swallowing difficulties which can have a huge impact on their quality of life. They may struggle to eat and drink, lose weight, develop repeated chest infections or even require tube feeding.
“By carrying out the procedure through an endoscope, we can treat the tight muscle causing the problem without making any external cuts. It also provides an option for patients who are not suitable for conventional surgery.”
One of the first patients to benefit was Susan Campbell, 69, from Flash, whose swallowing difficulties had “taken over her life”.
Susan, a retired carer, said: “Before the operation I just kept choking on anything I ate. I would cough and cough until my eyes streamed, and it became very difficult to swallow food. It affected my day-to-day life so much that I didn’t like going out anymore, I’d refuse invitations for meals because I hated the thought of eating or choking in front of people.
“Having this procedure has absolutely changed my life, it has given me my confidence back. Now I’m completely back to normal and eating as I used to again. The care at Royal Stoke was lovely, and I’m so glad I was able to have it.”
Unlike conventional surgery, the procedure is carried out entirely through an endoscope passed through the mouth meaning there are no external incisions or scars. It provides an alternative for patients who are not suitable for standard surgery because of their anatomy, previous treatment or other medical conditions.
UHNM has carried out more than 120 POEM procedures since 2020, giving surgeons the experience to safely expand the service to treat more complex swallowing disorders affecting the upper food pipe and throat.
The service currently treats patients from across Staffordshire and surrounding areas, with plans to expand.
Dr Rajkumar added: “We’ve made an excellent start with positive outcomes from our first patients. As the service grows we hope to increase capacity and in time develop UHNM as a regional centre for this specialist procedure.
“Seeing patients regain the ability to swallow and return to eating normally is incredibly rewarding.”