Our endoscopy departments provides treatment through a range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures available at three locations, Bridgwater Community Hospital, Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil Hospital; performing more than 19,000 procedures per year between them.

Endoscopy offers a range of different services such as:

  • Bronchoscopy
  • Colonoscopy
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy
  • Gastroscopy
  • National bowel cancer screening programme.

If you are having sedation, please ensure you will have someone who can accompany you following your procedure as you will not be able to leave the department unaccompanied, and you will not be allowed to drive home.

What to expect?

On admission to the department your height and weight will be taken as well as a set of baseline observations, (blood pressure, pulse, etc). The nurse will then check your details, including what procedure you are having and if preparation has been completed.

We will also check and confirm your contact details, past medical history and next of kin information. The nurse will then give you a consent form to read through whilst waiting for your procedure and, if applicable, a change of clothing, (gown/paper pants). The endoscopist will then ensure consent is given for your procedure. An endoscopy nurse will then come and collect you for your procedure and answer any questions you may have.

The nursing staff will do their best to keep you updated of any changes or delays to the clinic timings.

We undertake approximately 19,000 procedures a year and aim to give a high quality of care for patients and relatives in a friendly and safe environment where knowledge, privacy, dignity and respect are our ultimate goals.

JAG accreditation

At Yeovil Hospital, the Endoscopy team are JAG accredited. The current Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) accreditation scheme was established in 2005 and, along with the Global Rating Scale (GRS), has supported endoscopy services across the UK to focus on standards and identify areas for development. The scheme is regarded as one of the most innovative and effective in the healthcare sector, and has been used as a model and source of inspiration for similar schemes both here and overseas.

Accreditation enables endoscopy services to assess their current performance, and it supports them in planning and developing their services. It helps with:

  • People – it helps to improve their focus on meeting users’ needs
  • Workforce – it helps to improve their focus on meeting the team’s needs
  • Profile – it raises awareness and understanding of endoscopy, so building confidence and credibility both within the organisation and among the public.

Improving performance the standard serves as an authoritative benchmark for assessing performance, rewarding achievements in the service and driving quality improvement.