Dr Ahmir Ahmad

Qualifications

BSc, PhD, MRCP, MB BS

GMC number: 7090128

Practising since: 2010

Specialties

Gastroenterology, General (internal) Medicine

Consultation times

  • Wednesday 13:30 to 14:30
  • Overview
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About

Dr Ahmir Ahmad is a Consultant Gastrointestinal Endoscopist and Luminal Gastroenterologist at Nuffield Health Brentwood Hospital. He specialises in endoscopic procedures including colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, gastroscopy, and polypectomy, as well as the diagnosis and management of a broad range of gastrointestinal conditions such as abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastro-oesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhoea, constipation, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and coeliac disease.

In 2023, Dr Ahmad was appointed as a Consultant at the internationally renowned St Mark’s National Bowel Hospital, where he performs procedures at the Wolfson Unit for Endoscopy—a world centre of excellence. Accredited in both upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, he has performed over 4,000 procedures. His clinical interests include complex polypectomy, optical and AI-assisted diagnosis, and advancing techniques in colonoscopy.

Dr Ahmad graduated with distinction from University College London in 2010. He completed a four-year specialist clinical and research endoscopy fellowship at St Mark’s National Bowel Hospital from 2018 to 2022, during which he also undertook a PhD at Imperial College London. His doctoral research, under the supervision of Professor Brian Saunders, focused on optimising efficiency across the colonoscopy care pathway.

Dr Ahmad led the landmark DISCARD3 study, which investigated the use of optical diagnosis with a “resect and discard” strategy—the findings from this research are now being adopted nationally. As Clinical Lead for Optical Diagnosis, he plays a key role in supporting adoption of this innovative change in practice within the NHS England Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. He is also an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London and a member of the British Society of Gastroenterology’s Clinical Research Group.

Dr Ahmad has published extensively in the field and is passionate about education. Most recently, he co-authored the 8th edition of the renowned textbook Cotton & Williams’ Practical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Special interests

• General gastroenterology
• Abdominal pain
• Dyspepsia and gastrointestinal reflux
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Diarrhoea, Constipation
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Coeliac disease

Treatments and tests offered by Dr Ahmir Ahmad at Nuffield Health

  • Gastroesophageal
  • Polypectomy
  • Colonoscopy
  • Gastroscopy (or gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy)
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy
  • Diagnostic endoscopy
  • Gastrointestinal tract

Locations Dr Ahmir Ahmad works with

Related experience

Research

Dr Ahmad’s research focus is about the performance of high quality colonoscopy to optimise patient outcomes.  He has a particular interest in improving efficiency in colonoscopy as well as optical and AI assisted diagnosis.  His earlier research about bariatric surgery made headline news in 2018.  He has published widely and has presented at a range of national and international conferences.  In 2024, he was elected as a member of the BSG Endoscopy Clinical Research Group to help support endoscopy research in the UK.

Some notable recent publications include:

  • Ahmad A et al. 2024. Randomised trial of ‘hybrid’ water-assisted colonoscopy (modified water immersion) versus water exchange colonoscopy: WAVE study. Frontline Gastroenterology, 15(4): 305-313. DOI: 10.1136/flgastro-2023-102606
  • Orlovic M and Ahmad A et al. 2023. Economic impact of implementing optical diagnosis with a “resect and discard” strategy within the English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme: Findings from the DISCARD3 study. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 98(1):73-81. DOI: 10.1016/j.gie.2023.01.054
  • Ahmad A et al. 2023. NBI International Colorectal Endoscopic–derived high-confidence optical diagnosis of small polyps compared with histology: understanding errors to improve diagnostic accuracy. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 97(1):78-88. DOI: 10.1016/j.gie.2022.08.032
  • Ahmad A et al. 2022. Implementation of optical diagnosis with a 'resect and discard strategy' in clinical practice: DISCARD3 study. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 96(6):1021-1032. DOI: 10.1016/j.gie.2022.06.019
  • Ahmad A et al. 2023. Evaluation of a real-time computer aided polyp detection system (CADe) during screening colonoscopy: AI-DETECT study. Endoscopy, 55(4)313-319. DOI: 10.1016/j.gie.2022.08.032

A full list is publications is available here: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5779-3545


Memberships

  • British Society of Gastroenterology
  • European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
  • Royal College of Physicians

Other posts held

  • Consultant Gastroenterologist and Specialist Endoscopist at St Mark's National Bowel Hospital
  • Clinical Lead for Optical Diagnosis at NHS England
  • Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London
  • Member of the Endoscopy Clinical Research Group at the British Society of Gastroenterology

Insurers Dr Ahmir Ahmad works with

Dr Ahmir Ahmad works with the following private medical insurance providers:

  • Bupa Fee Assured
  • Bupa Global
  • Bupa On Demand
  • Allianz
  • Aviva Health
  • AXA Health
  • Healix
  • Vitality Health (Pru Health)
  • WPA

Declaration

Dr Ahmir Ahmad does not hold a share or financial interest in this hospital, another Nuffield Health hospital or the company.

Dr Ahmir Ahmad does not have a share or financial interest in equipment used at this hospital or another Nuffield Health hospital.

Dr Ahmir Ahmad does not hold any paid advisory role(s) at this hospital or on behalf of Nuffield Health.