The Endoscopy Unit at Leighton Hospital is located within the Treatment Centre, which has a light and spacious reception area and admissions lounge leading through to dedicated single-gender changing areas and waiting rooms. There are five procedure rooms including a room equipped to deliver x-ray supported procedures and anesthetic-supported sedation. There are post-procedure recovery, ward and discharge lounge facilities, which are shared with the day surgery service.
In total, the Unit does around 12,000 procedures a year across all specialties.
The Endoscopy Unit is JAG-accredited – JAG (Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) accreditation means that you can have extra confidence in your endoscopy service and be assured of the same quality of care no matter where your endoscopy takes place. For us, it means we are proud that we can offer a high quality and safe service. It also gives us extra opportunities for investment, growth and development of services.
JAG accreditation is given to endoscopy services which have been assessed and have demonstrated that they meet the JAG quality standards. These cover all aspects of an endoscopy service, ensuring that they:
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continually improve the quality and safety of the care provided;
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maintain a strong focus on ensuring patients have a positive experience;
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provide excellent training and development opportunities for all staff;
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maintain a safe and comfortable environment for patients and staff.
Our service works closely alongside consultants, specialist nurses, general practitioners and other healthcare professionals to deliver procedures.
Patient Feedback
"Staff very kind and thoughtful. Peaceful atmosphere for such delicate procedures."
"Everything on time. Staff very good"
"Everyone was very friendly and helpful - they put me at ease. Excellent from start tofinish."
"Service and staff were excellent. Everything of procedure was explained."
"All the staff were super-efficient. Cannot fault the service I received"
"I was in and seen very quickly. Staff made me feel at ease as I was very anxious."
Patients can access the service through referrals from their GP, hospital medical staff or specialist practitioners following outpatient consultations or inpatient stays.
If you have been referred for a Colonoscopy (a procedure where a flexible endoscope is inserted into your back passage and manoeuvred around your large bowel) the team will be sending you a link to a pre assessment app via your mobile phone number or email. Please click on the link and complete the assessment, this will take you approximately 15 - 30 mins to complete, you will need your medication details and any allergies available for the form. It is also ok to ask a family member or Friend to help you complete the assessment.
The Endoscopy Unit at Leighton Hospital is located within the Treatment Centre on the ground floor of the hospital with dedicated patient and visitor parking adjacent to the entrance. (Entrance 3 from the A530 Middlewich Road).
IBD UK - https:/
GUTS UK - https:/
Crohn's and Colitis UK - https:/
NHS: Bowel cancer screening - https://
Coeliac UK - https://
Bowel Cancer UK - https://
NHS: Bowel polyps - https://
Privacy and Dignity
The Treatment Centre and Victoria Infirmary Northwich (VIN) have single-gender changing rooms.
Do I need to bring anything?
You may wish to bring a dressing gown and some slippers if your procedure is a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, but we can give you them if you need them. If you are having a gastroscopy, you do not need these items.
Please bring with you a list of medications you are currently taking.
Please do not bring any valuables into hospital with you; Mid Cheshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (MCHFT) cannot be held responsible for any loss.
How long should I allow for my appointment?
How long you will be in the Endoscopy Unit will depend on the procedure you have, whether you have a sedative injection, and how you feel after your procedure. If you choose to have a sedative, you will be kept in the department for longer so we can monitor you until you are fully awake. Occasionally endoscopy lists run late as procedures sometimes take longer than expected, or we have unavoidable delays. The nurses in Endoscopy will inform you of any delays. Please allow up to three hours for your appointment.
What happens if I don’t take the bowel preparation properly?
It is very important that you follow the bowel preparation instructions carefully. If you do not follow the instructions, the bowel lining may not be clean and the endoscopist will not be able to see any abnormalities that are there. If your bowel is not clean it can mean that you must repeat the bowel preparation again another time.
If you have any questions, problems or concerns with your bowel preparation, before you start or during the time you are taking it, please ring our pre-assessment nurses on 01270 277929 and they will be able to give you some advice.
We also have bowel preparation videos here on our website which will guide you through the process and explain everything.
Who will be with me during the procedure?
During the procedure we will have allocated a nurse whose role is to take care of you. The nurse will monitor your observations and check if you are experiencing any pain throughout the procedure. The nurse will also support and guide you through your procedure. If you have any concerns, let the nurse know so they can help you.
Will the procedure hurt or be uncomfortable?
In Endoscopy we try to make you as comfortable as possible during your procedure. We often use sedation, analgesia, Entonox and local anaesthetic or a combination of these drugs. It is our aim to make you as comfortable as possible during your procedure, however slight discomfort can be common.
During colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy, a feeling of trapped wind is common, and in investigations of the stomach a bloated feeling and burping is very common.
Will I be able to stop the procedure at any point?
Yes, you can stop the procedure at any time. There will always be a nurse with you so you can tell them if you wish to stop the procedure; the endoscopist will be listening to what you say also.
During gastroscopy it’s difficult to speak so we tell patients to raise their hand in the air as a sign that they need our attention/want the test to stop.
What is throat spray?
Throat spray is a local anaesthetic and is used for gastroscopy procedures.
What is sedation?
Sedation is a medication which is used to make you feel relaxed and comfortable while having your procedure. Many people expect that the sedation will ‘put them to sleep’ but this is not the case.
You may also be given Entonox (gas & air) if you need it.
We will talk to you about sedation when we admit you or during your pre-operative assessment.
How will I feel after sedation?
Sedation affects people in different ways; it can make you feel sleepy and/or drowsy after your procedure. If you choose to have sedation, a responsible adult should collect you from the hospital and stay with you for 24 hours.
Travel home should be by car/taxi (not public transport/train). You should rest at home for 24 hours (no work) and do not drive, operate machinery, or sign important documents.
When will I get my results?
After your procedure, the endoscopist will let you know the outcome of your procedure. It is not always possible to know exactly what the results are, especially if biopsies have been taken. The endoscopist will let you know if they have seen anything, but you may need to wait until the biopsy results are back to get further information about exactly what is happening.
The doctor who initially referred you will go through the results of the endoscopy and any biopsies in more detail when they see you in clinic/GP surgery.
What should I do if I don’t understand why I need an endoscopy?
Please contact the pre-assessment nurses and they will be able to discuss your referral with you.
What should I do if I don’t want to have the procedure?
If you don’t want to have your procedure, the decision is entirely yours. However, we would ask that you let us know as early as possible so that we can offer the appointment to someone else.
If you have any further questions that you would like answered, please email the team. We would like to populate this page with real questions asked by you, so if there is anything missing on our website, please get in touch and let us know.
