Endoscopy
OVERVIEW:
Welcome to WWL Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Endoscopy Service
Our Endoscopy Unit provides care at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary (RAEI) in Wigan and in the Hanover Unit at Leigh Infirmary. Our experienced team of medical and nursing specialists at our Endoscopy Unit carry out more than 20,000 endoscopy procedures every year. Providing investigations for the population of 339,174 of the Metropolitan boroughs of Wigan.
At RAEI, we provide specialist screening services for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract (gullet, stomach, intestines and colon).
At Hanover Unit, we offer a range of endoscopic procedures of the gastrointestinal tract. This includes diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of the upper GI tract (gastroscopy), colon (colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy).
- What is an Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a procedure that uses a long, thin, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope, to diagnose or treat a condition within the gastrointestinal tract.
- Who performs the Endoscopy
Endoscopy is performed by doctors and specially trained nurses (Clinical Nurse Endoscopists). All endoscopists have met the criteria set by the UK national endoscopy body JAG (Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy) All endoscopists are supported by specialist endoscopy nurses and health care assistants.
- Our aims as a team
As an endoscopy team we aim to:
- Make your visit to the unit as relaxed and as dignified as possible
- Keep you fully informed of what is happening, at all times to enable you to make informed choices
- Provide an accessible, timely and high-quality patient-centred service
- Provide you with a high standard of care based on current recommendations and protocols
- What happens after the procedure
We provide you with a full report of your procedure before you leave our unit. This means that you will be fully informed of the outcome of your procedure. We will also let you know if you need to have any further investigations.
On this web page you will find information about all the procedures and treatments we offer, including helpful links to external websites. You will be able to access information about the endoscopy unit and the members of staff that will be looking after you on your visit.
- Helpful information
Click here to be taken to our Patient Leaflets area for more useful information on our Endoscopy service and the various treatments available.
- Banding of piles
Banding is a procedure that is sometimes used to treat second- and third-degree haemorrhoids.
Banding involves a very tight elastic band being placed around the base of your haemorrhoids to cut off their blood supply. The haemorrhoids should fall off within seven days of having the treatment.
Banding is usually carried out as a day procedure and you should be able to return to work the following day. However, you may feel some pain or discomfort for a day or so. Normal painkillers are usually effective but, if necessary, your GP may prescribe something stronger.
You may not realise the haemorrhoids have fallen off because they should pass out of your body when you go to the toilet. If you notice some mucus discharge within a week of the procedure, it usually means that the haemorrhoid has fallen off.
Directly after the procedure, you may notice some blood on the toilet paper after going to the toilet. This is normal, but there should not be a lot of bleeding. If you pass a lot of bright red blood or blood clots (solid lumps of blood), go to your nearest accident and emergency department immediately.
Infections or ulcers (open sores) can occur at the site of the banding. However, these complications are rare and can be easily treated.
- How to access our services
You can be referred to us for a number of conditions such as anaemia, ulcers, oesophagitis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, cancer of the digestive tract, liver disease and gallstones.
We also work collaboratively with the bowel cancer screening service and specialist screening practitioners to provide dedicated bowel cancer screening lists several times per week.
Patients can be referred by their GP for a direct access oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (gastroscope) or straight to test colonoscopy. Other referrals come from doctors, surgeons and specialist nurses in clinics and other hospitals.
Unfortunately, at present you are unable to self-refer to the service.
HOW IS MY APPOINTMENT BOOKED
Once our booking team receive your referral and have an appointment for you they will try to contact you by telephone so please make sure the team and your GP have the correct telephone numbers for you.
WHAT IF I CANNOT BE CONTACTED
You will be sent a letter stating that we have tried to contact you and asking you to contact us within a certain timeframe.
If you do not contact us, you will be removed from our waiting list and discharged back to the care of your GP or referring clinician.
- Changing/Cancellation of your appointment
Your Appointment
We are all busy people and sometimes, it is not always possible for you to get to an appointment we may have made with you. If you are unable to attend your appointment for any reason, please tell us as soon as possible so your appointment can be given to another patient. This improves our service for everyone.
If less than 72 hours prior to an appointment, please do not use this form, instead, call our dedicated appointment line: 0300 555 4567.
- Contact Details
Hanover Building
2nd Floor
Leigh Infirmary
The Avenue, Leigh
WN7 1HS
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Wigan Lane
Wigan
WN1 2NN
Monday - Friday between 8am - 6pm. Contact via Swithboard 01942 244000
Saturday and Sunday - (24 hours) Contact 111 out-of-hours service for advice or attend your local urgent care centre for urgent symptom management.