Charles Cock is a gastroenterologist based at Flinders Drive, Bedford Park in Adelaide, SA. He looks after people with gut and upper tummy concerns, as well as issues that involve the oesophagus and swallowing.
You’ll often see him involved in testing and care like endoscopy and colonoscopy. These help doctors check what’s going on inside, especially when symptoms keep coming back or when something needs a closer look. In many cases, that means working out the cause of tummy or bowel problems and then helping with the right next steps.
His work also covers colorectal cancer care, and he helps manage risks for people with a family history of bowel cancer. He can also support patients dealing with symptoms linked to bowel bleeding, iron deficiency anaemia, or low iron levels. At times, that includes problems like angiodysplasia of the colon, where small blood vessels in the bowel can cause bleeding.
For the upper digestive system, he treats things such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn, and oesophagitis. Some patients come in with ongoing reflux symptoms, while others may have trouble with swallowing or food getting stuck. Conditions like achalasia and swallowing difficulty are also part of the kind of care he provides.
There can be other complex issues too. For example, he may be involved when blood tests show an issue with salt levels, including low sodium. He also helps with renal tubular acidosis types such as distal renal tubular acidosis, proximal renal tubular acidosis, and related problems. These are not always “gut only”, but they can show up in the bigger picture of someone’s health.
Charles Cock also treats people with conditions that can affect daily function and movement. This includes Parkinson’s disease, spasticity, and movement disorders. Sleep and breathing issues, like obstructive sleep apnoea, may come up in the broader plan of care as well.
He works with adults who need careful investigation and follow-up, including people with tongue cancer who may require swallowing-related assessment. Over time, this type of work builds practical experience in talking through symptoms, organising tests, and helping patients understand what the results could mean.
