Endoscopy

What does the service do?

We provide a community-based endoscopy service at Braintree Community Hospital, through our sub-contractor InHealth delivering lower endoscopy (colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy) and upper endoscopy (transnasal and oral gastroscopy).

The service is a diagnostic endoscopy but also completes therapeutic procedures, such as polypectomy, when it is safe to do so.

An endoscopy is a test which involves placing a small diameter flexible tube with a light source at the end (called an endoscope) into either your gullet or your bowel. This is a safe and very effective way for you to be examined in a convenient location. The clinician performing the procedure can then look for evidence of bleeding, swelling, unusual growths or ulcers. 

Eligibility criteria

Adults who are registered with a GP in the NHS Mid Essex area.

Patients must be over 18 years of age.

Endoscopy: delivered by InHealth

InHealth work to the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines and protocols. InHealth are Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) accredited.

As the largest provider of expert diagnostic solutions and healthcare services throughout the UK for over 20 years, InHealth works in collaboration with the NHS to respond to the changing healthcare environment, delivering clinical and operational excellence. With over 2,300 staff working across prevention, diagnosis and pathways and interventions, InHealth has been providing patients and commissioners with rapid access to high-quality CQC registered and JAG accredited endoscopy services in community gastroenterology clinics for over 10 years.

When/where is the service delivered?

We deliver the service at Braintree Community Hospital from Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm and on some Saturdays and Sundays 8.00am to 5.00pm.

All appointments must be booked.

How do I get referred?

You must be referred by a healthcare professional, such as a GP or clinical specialist. 

What do our service users say?

• "Excellent service from beginning to end. Staff are very friendly, everything fantastically clean."
• "Lovely team put me at ease completely. Thank you."
• "Simply the best. Double checking, explanations and care all brilliant. A credit to the service."

Want to know more?

Usual waiting time is four weeks. You’ll be seen within six weeks.