From development to delivery of a patient-focused constipation service

The Durham Constipation Clinic is a specialist service that focuses on the care and management of patients with chronic, severe, refractory constipation and other intractable functional bowel disorders. The service, established in 2001, has grown into one of the largest specialist constipation clinics in Europe. This article describes the evolution of the service, highlighting the importance of a patient-centred, research-active, holistic approach in this challenging area of medicine.