Dr. Matt W. Johnson

Dr Johnson went to St. George’s Medical School in South West London, where he also completed a BSc to compliment the MB BS. He went on to train in the South East Thames region, through Guy’s, St. Thomas’s and King’s. Dr Johnson completed his MD research fellowship at St. Mark’s in 2009 investigating the bacterial pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and studying the use of probiotics as a novel form of therapy. He now works at the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital as a Consultant Gastroenterologists and Clinical Lead for the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service.

Dr Johnson also runs the Small Bowel Capsule Service and the Oesophageal Laboratory. He is dual qualified as a Gastroenterologists and General Medical Physician. Dr Johnson was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 2013. In the last 15 years he has been the Clinical Lead for Gastroenterology at both the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital and also at the Spire Harpenden Hospital. He maintains an active role in research. Dr Johnson has been awarded 6 Clinical Excellent Awards, for the research, work and services he has set up at the L&D. He has been lucky enough to win several awards over the years eg. The East of England Regional Innovation Fund Award (2011) + the SAGE (Shire Awards Gastroenterology Excellence) Awards 2014 and have been Runners up in the EHI (Electronic Health Information) Award + British Medical Journal (BMJ) Gastroenterology Team of the Year Award in both 2014 & 2015.

Dr Johnson is a true luminologist, dealing with everything from the mouth to anus. There isn’t a part of the bowel he can’t access, if needed. He is interested in any condition that affects the enteric absorption and transport system, which means Dr Johnson tends to deal with everything from oesophageal spasm, dysmotility, reflux, indigestion, ulcers, food allergies, coeliac disease, food intolerances, IBS, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), polyps and cancer. More recently his research has focussed on non-invasive stool markers of inflammation, coeliac disease, patient self management websites and pan-enteric capsule in the assessment of new treatments for IBD. At present, Dr Johnson is the National Lead for the IBD Registry and Patient Management System, Early Adopters Role Out Programme. He has also been involved with the development of web-based management systems eg. the Coeliac and IBD-SSHAMP (Supported, Self Help And Management Programme).

Dr Johnson aims to provide a high standard of care , and is proud of the services he has developed locally, which are now recognised at a Nationally level as services of excellence. He tries to provide a private service that reflects his NHS practice.

Dr Johnson enjoys his job and specifically chose gastroenterology because he knew the variety of the specialty would maintain his interest over a life time career.

Dr Johnson finds private work a refreshing change from his normal NHS practice. As a patient there is little difference in the private and NHS care, apart from the “speed” at which things can be done, and the “setting”. Dr Johnson says “Walking in to the Hemel OSD is like walking into a hotel. The relaxed nature of the environment and the additional time provided for consultations allows for a better understanding of the issues at hand, which typically leads to a swifter definitive diagnosis and management programme. Typically this means I am able to provide reassurance quicker and start directed therapy earlier.”

In previous anonymous feedback from clinic audits patients have stated that they find Dr Johnson “approachable”, “friendly”, “professional” and “knowledgeable”. He is grateful to the people he gets to meet, and thankful that his practice continues to grow, largely through word of mouth, and reputation.