The Leicester Intestinal Failure Team (LIFT) provides specialist care for patients with complex nutritional needs and intestinal failure across Leicester, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Rutland. We are a nationally commissioned service for Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) and work in partnership with Nottingham University Hospitals to deliver a comprehensive East Midlands-wide service for both medical and surgical intestinal failure.
We are one of the UK’s largest tertiary gastroenterology centres, offering advanced medical and surgical care. Our team accepts referrals from within UHL—including the cancer centre and bone marrow transplant unit—as well as from hospitals across the wider region.
What is intestinal failure?
Intestinal failure is a rare condition where the gut cannot absorb enough nutrients or fluids to sustain health. It is often caused by:
- Major abdominal surgery
- Chronic gastrointestinal diseases
- Conditions like short bowel syndrome, entero-cutaneous fistulae, or high-output stomas
Patients typically require Parenteral Nutrition (PN), which is initiated during a hospital admission—usually on our specialist units Wards 42 and 43 at Leicester Royal Infirmary, or on surgical wards. Daily care and review are provided by our dedicated intestinal failure team.
Our services
- Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN): Ongoing monitoring and care via multidisciplinary clinics after discharge
- Specialist clinics: Comprehensive assessment and management of patients with complex nutrition-related issues
- Nutrition nurse specialists: Expert support for enteral tube feeding, including assessments, troubleshooting, and long-term management
- Tertiary surgical support: Close collaboration with surgical teams for patients requiring complex operative care
Contacting us and making a referral
If you are a doctor wanting to make an inpatient referral to the Intestinal Failure Unit please contact any of our Consultants via the UHL switchboard on 0300 303 1573 to discuss the referral and complete the Intestinal Failure referral form at the bottom of this page and email it to [email protected]
If you are a clinician wanting to speak to our Nutrition Nurses or Specialist Dietitians, please call 0116 258 6988.
If you are a patient on Home Parenteral Nutrition and have problems with your PN, you should first contact your home care company and otherwise should contact the Nutrition Support Team on 0116 258 6988.
To make a referral for Enteral Tube Feeding assessment please contact the Nutrition Nurses on 0116 258 6988.
To refer to the Intestinal Failure Clinic or our Surgical Intestinal Failure service please email the Intestinal Failure Referral form below to [email protected]. The referral will be reviewed by one of our consultants and triaged to the appropriate clinic. If it is felt that the referral is not appropriate it will be returned with a covering letter.