Our Rapid Diagnostics Centre offers fast access to advanced imaging, specialist clinics and on-site testing - helping you get clarity in days, not weeks. Plus, our 24/7 private GP service is here whenever you need urgent advice.
As a charitable hospital, we reinvest in exceptional care, research and innovation - helping us improve healthcare for patients here and far beyond our walls.
Your Patient Hub brings together everything you need to prepare for your visit, understand your care and know what to expect throughout your stay.
The London Clinic’s Upper GI Motility Service in Harley Street, London, is here to help if swallowing, heartburn or chest discomfort are affecting day‑to‑day life and you want clear answers, quickly.
Everything happens under one roof, from specialist tests to advanced treatments such as POEM for achalasia, so you can move from worry to a clear plan in as few visits as possible.
See a doctor or consultant within days
Quick access to leading diagnostics on-site
Expert support guiding your next steps
On this page
When the muscles and nerves of the oesophagus are not working smoothly, eating and drinking can feel difficult, painful or unpredictable.
Our team in central London focuses on these upper GI motility problems, including troublesome reflux, problems after previous surgery and rare conditions such as achalasia, diffuse oesophageal spasm and “jackhammer” oesophagus.
Many people come to the service because they are living with:
Achalasia is a condition where the valve between the oesophagus and stomach does not open properly and the oesophagus loses its usual squeezing action.
This can cause slow, effortful swallowing, regurgitation of food or drink and, over time, weight loss and anxiety around eating.
At The London Clinic in Harley Street, patients with achalasia are offered a rapid, full motility assessment and access to modern treatments, including POEM (per‑oral endoscopic myotomy), a state-of-the-art endoscopic procedure performed from inside the oesophagus without external cuts.
POEM can provide long‑lasting relief of swallowing symptoms for many patients, and your consultant will talk through whether it is the right option for you alongside other treatments such as dilatation or Botox injections.
Your consultant will recommend a tailored combination of tests.
Most people will start with an upper endoscopy (OGD), which allows the team to look carefully at the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum and to rule out structural problems such as inflammation, narrowing or growths.
If more information is needed, the team may suggest:
Other imaging or swallow studies may be arranged if your doctor suspects an anatomical or post‑surgical issue.
Where it is safe and appropriate, several of these investigations can be carried out on the same day.
This reduces the number of separate appointments you need and means your consultant can bring the results together quickly to explain what is happening and what can help.
Your care is led by consultant gastroenterologists with particular expertise in reflux, motility disorders and therapeutic endoscopy, working as part of a dedicated multi‑disciplinary team (MDT) that includes specialist nurses, radiologists, dietitians and speech and language therapists.
This MDT approach means your investigations and treatments are planned together rather than in isolation, so your plan takes account of your overall health, diet, speech and lifestyle.
For more complex cases, The London Clinic works in partnership with the Northwestern Medicine Kenneth C. Griffin Esophageal Center in Chicago, so your treatment plan can also benefit from the experience of international leaders in oesophageal motility.
Once the team has a clear picture of what is causing your symptoms, they will talk you through a personalised plan.
If an intervention is needed, your consultant may recommend options such as dilatation with EsoFLIP, standard balloon dilatation, Botox injections or POEM, and will explain the benefits and risks in a way that supports shared decision‑making.
Your personalised plan may include:
Finding out what is causing swallowing or reflux symptoms can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate it alone.
Our team will explain each step, answer your questions and help you move from uncertainty to a clear, personalised plan.
If you think you may benefit from our Upper GI Motility Service in Harley Street, London, you can:
The London Clinic welcomes referrals from GPs, gastroenterologists, surgeons, ENT specialists and other clinicians caring for patients with complex swallowing, reflux or suspected motility disorders.
Our Upper GI Motility Service offers coordinated access to advanced diagnostics and expert interpretation in a single Harley Street centre, helping you answer difficult clinical questions and move patients on to appropriate treatment more quickly.
By referring to our dedicated Upper GI Motility Service, you can be confident your patients will receive a thorough assessment, a clear diagnosis and timely access to the latest treatment options, while you remain closely involved in ongoing care.
Get in touch
Trusted for over 90 years, The London Clinic is an independent charitable hospital that reinvests into care, research, and support for those who can’t easily access private treatment.
More patients choose The London Clinic than any other.
4.86/5 from over 1,600 reviews on Doctify and over 4.5 on Google.
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
Backed by Northwestern, we equip our teams with cutting-edge medical equipment.
