Meet our team

Who are The Capsule Clinic?

The Capsule Clinic was founded by Dr. Simon Campbell, a Consultant Gastroenterologist specializing in luminal gastroenterology.

Dr. Simon Campbell

Consultant Gastroenterologist

Dr. Simon Campbell leads a team of expert consultant gastroenterologists at The Capsule Clinic, offering a wide range of diagnostic tests for gastrointestinal disorders. He has over 20 years of experience in capsule endoscopy services across both the NHS and private sectors.

He trained under Professor Tony Morris at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and established capsule endoscopy services in Berkshire, Manchester Royal Infirmary, and The Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle. He set up the first NHS colon capsule service in the Northwest in 2015.

Dr. Simon Campbell is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and an accredited bowel cancer colonoscopist. He graduated in Medicine from Birmingham University and received extensive training in luminal gut problems in Edinburgh, Oxford, and Liverpool.

Previously, he was a full-time NHS Consultant Gastroenterologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, serving as the research and clinical lead for inflammatory bowel disease. In 2015, he took a part-time NHS role, focusing on specialist endoscopy in the National Bowel Cancer screening programme and subsequently expanded his role as a private practitioner in Cheshire. His private practice specialises in diagnostic imaging for reflux disease (GORD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Barrett’s oesophagus, colon cancer, and gastrointestinal surveillance using capsule endoscopy.

Dr. Campbell is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and has held national roles with the British Society of Gastroenterology. He has been an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Salford and Manchester University and currently serves as the JAG endoscopy lead and chair of the endoscopy user group at Circle Alexandra Hospital.

Mrs Joanne Hodgins

Specialist Nurse Practitioner

Specialist Nurse Joanne Hodgins has worked with Dr. Campbell for over 17 years in the NHS. She was among the first specialist nurses in the UK to achieve accreditation in colon capsule endoscopy. Her expertise includes capsule endoscopy and managing inflammatory bowel disease.

At The Capsule Clinic, she applies her specialised skills to enhance patient care and continues to make significant contributions to the field.

Mrs Sarah Campbell

Practice Manager

Sarah Campbell serves as the Practice Manager and Co-director of The Capsule Clinic, bringing over 17 years of experience in the private healthcare sector with Gastro Medical Solutions LLP. Her extensive knowledge of endoscopy procedures and medical insurance are supported by her strong commitment to patient care.

Sarah plays a vital role ensuring patients receive exceptional care from the moment they enter the clinic, managing endoscopy procedures efficiently and keeping patients well-informed and comfortable throughout their experience. Her dedication to patient satisfaction and operational excellence is central to The Capsule Clinic’s reputation for exceptional care.

Dr. Tim Cross

Consultant Hepatologist

Dr. Tim Cross qualified from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School in 1996. He trained in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy in London and Essex, followed by subspecialty training in liver transplant units at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, The Royal Free Hospital, and Kings College Hospital in London.

His postgraduate research focused on the non-invasive assessment of liver damage and was awarded his Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) in 2009. Dr. Cross served as a Consultant at the South West Liver Unit in Plymouth before moving to his current position in Liverpool in 2012.

He is currently the Secretary of The British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL) and a Committee Member of HCC-UK, a special interest group in the UK researching hepatocellular carcinoma.

Clinical Interests

  • Investigation of abnormal liver blood test
  • Fibroscan: non-invasive assessment of liver damage
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Alcohol related liver disease
  • Autoimmune liver disease: autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Metabolic liver diseases: alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Haemochromatosis, Wilsons disease
  • Cardiac liver damage
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
  • Diagnostic gastroscopy (including variceal band ligation and glue injection)
  • Diagnostic colonoscopy: biopsies and polypectomy

Dr. Velauthan Rudralingam

Consultant Radiologist

Dr. Velauthan Rudralingam, better known as Appu in the North West region, graduated from The Queen’s University of Belfast in 1995. He subsequently obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in Ireland and then completed his radiology training in the North West Radiology Training Scheme.

Dr. Rudralingam completed a Fellowship in Abdominal imaging in Toronto, Canada in 2006 before he commenced his substantive consultant radiologist post in the University Hospital South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust in 2007, now part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. His subspecialty interest is gastrointestinal imaging in both cross sectional and interventional radiology. He has previously held the lead role for GI radiology in the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust ( MFT).

Dr. Rudralingam previously fulfilled the role of GI modular lead for the radiology specialist trainees in the North West School of Radiology and he continues to teach within the school, delivering regular lectures.

Dr. Rudralingam has several peer reviewed publications and written a couple of radiology book chapters. He has delivered invited lectures and participated in imaging workshops as well as webinars in national and international meetings presenting on a wide range of abdominal related topics. He also has delivered a large number of electronic poster and oral presentations at national and international meetings.

Dr. Rudralingam is actively involved in the multidisciplinary meetings in MFT notably for upper and lower gastrointestinal cancer as well as the inflammatory bowel disease meetings.

Christel Lyell

Consultant Dietician

Christel graduated from the University of Pretoria in 1997 and worked as a Clinical Dietitian in South Africa for two years before moving to the UK in 1999. She continued her career as a Clinical Dietician in the NHS until 2021 gaining significant experience in Renal Medicine, Critical Care, and Gastroenterology. In 2014, she became the Clinical Team Leader for the Acute and Rehab team of Dietitians at Manchester Royal Infirmary and later, Head of Nutrition and Dietetics at Wythenshawe Hospital in 2019.

In 2019, Christel started her private practice, focusing on gut disorders such as IBS, chronic constipation, functional dyspepsia, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Coeliac Disease. She is registered with the HCPC and is a full member of the British Dietetic Association and the Gastroenterology Specialist group. Currently, she serves on the Freelance Dietitians Group committee.

Christel is committed to continuous professional development and is trained to an advanced level in the low FODMAP diet. She actively participates in courses and symposia to stay up to date with the latest research and development. She runs a blog, advocating for evidence-based nutrition education to help patients manage their conditions and improve their quality of life.

www.christellyelldietitian.com