We take care of diagnostics, treatment and care of patients with surgical conditions of the biliary tract, pancreas, small and large intestine, abdomen and anterior abdominal wall. We are also the regional centre for surgical treatment of morbid obesity. In treating inflammatory bowel diseases and reflux, we work closely with the gastroenterology section of the Department of Medicine. The department has functions in both Roskilde and Køge. Roskilde The section in Roskilde takes care of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the bowel and rectum. Some 400 cancer operations were performed in 2015. Around 95% of these operations involved laparoscopy. More than 25% involved robot assistance. In the cancer care pathway, patient referrals come from a GP or consultant or from the endoscopy unit in Køge. Patients are monitored by the pathway coordinator; they are seen in the outpatient clinic after CT and/or MR scans and MDT conference. The median time of bed rest after a bowel cancer operation is 2-3 days and 5 days after a rectal operation. Currently, surgeries are performed on 9 operating tables every week. There is a 25-bed ward, a stoma outpatient clinic as well as two outpatient clinics staffed by doctors and nurses. In addition, basic palliative care is given to patients with terminal cancer of the digestive tract. Køge The section in Køge takes care of emergencies, surgery for benign disorders of the digestive organs, bariatric surgery, and performs significant endoscopy and outpatient functions. There are two wards with a total of 54 beds. The endoscopy section performs approximately 10,000 procedures a year for colonoscopy, gastroscopy, ERCP, EMR as well as advanced endoscopy procedures. There are 13 operating tables per week as well as 6 operating tables for day surgery. All major emergency laparotomies surgeries are performed according to enhanced recovery after surgery principles. We collaborate with several specialist fields at Zealand University Hospital in both Roskilde and Køge. In Roskilde, MDT conferences take place in collaboration with oncologists, pathologists and radiologists. In Køge, there is close collaboration with gastro-medicine in relation to patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition, there is close collaboration with a number of clinical and paraclinical departments as well as the primary municipal and regional bodies. In addition, there is direct contact with the primary care sector, e.g. practice consultant, GPs and consultants. With regard to specific patient pathways and training, we work with the other departments of the Region as well as with the neighbouring Southern Denmark Region and Capital Region. In the field of research and development, we collaborate with the University of Copenhagen, the University of Southern Denmark as well as with partners abroad, i.e. in the US and UK. Cancer surgery is performed in the Roskilde section. IBD surgery is performed in the Køge section, often as a regional function. Bariatrics is taken care of with Køge serving a regional function. Hernia surgery is performed in Køge, treating simple inguinal hernia as well as major hernia of the abdominal wall, and parastomal hernia. These are undertaken as a regional function. The department's Research Unit comprises a professor and, currently, eight PhD students and eight pregraduate students. A post doc PhD nurse has been appointed to manage research into nursing care. The Research Unit put out 42 publications in 2017. The unit cooperates with other research institutions in Denmark and internationally. The Research Unit performs a vital function in ensuring a high level of expertise in the department. Training is considered very important and is undertaken by a clinical development nurse as well as a consultant with training responsibilities. The department provides training for a large number of students. Quality assurance is coordinated by the department's quality coordinator, who is also responsible for aligning the work of the department with the hospital's overarching strategy: "The patient is everything". Patient safety is primarily monitored by the department's quality coordinator in collaboration with the department management and key clinical personnel.