Endoscopy
Contact
- Outpatients appointments
- 020 3312 6010
Visitor Information
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An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined using an endoscope.
Our endoscopy service has units at Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St Mary’s hospitals. We aim to provide a comprehensive, efficient and high quality research-based service to our patients. Our dedicated team of professionals take pride in providing the best possible clinical care, offering privacy, dignity and individual attention to all patients. We strive to provide patient-centred care in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
All of our units are fully JAG (Joint Advisory Group) accredited with a strong governance background.
Services we offer
An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light source and a video camera at one end. Images of the inside of your body are relayed to a television screen. Endoscopes can be inserted into the body through a natural opening, such as the mouth and down the throat, or through the anus (via the bottom).
Our endoscopy service offers a number of procedures, including:
- gastroscopy
- flexible sigmoidoscopy
- colonoscopy
- endoscopic ultrasound (upper GI and bronchial)
- therapeutic upper and lower GI endoscopy (including stenting)
- biopsy/fine needle aspiration (FNA)
- HALO radiofrequency ablation
- enteroscopy (balloon and push)
- capsule endoscopy
- upper and lower GI physiology tests
- percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
- bronchoscopy and pleural service
- endoscopic tetrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP)
- bariatric balloon placement/removal
- bowel cancer screening programme
Clinics
Charing Cross Hospital endoscopy unit
Address
Endoscopy unit
First floor, west wing
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Rd
London W6 8RF
Hammersmith Hospital endoscopy unit
Address
Endoscopy unit
A block, ground floor
Hammersmith Hospital
Du Cane Road
London W12 0HS
St Mary’s Hospital endoscopy unit
Address
Endoscopy unit
Second floor
Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) building
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY
Contact
For all enquiries, please contact the patient booking centre, who will refer you to the appropriate person. Please have your appointment letter, hospital reference number or NHS number available when you call.
Phone: 020 3312 6010
Hours: All units are open 08.00 to 18.00 daily
Patient information
Before your appointment
You will receive a letter and a leaflet about your procedure asking you to contact us to arrange your endoscopy appointment. Once you have booked your appointment with us, you will receive a confirmation letter. This will contain information such as date and time of appointment, location of the endoscopy unit and contact details.
If you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment, please let us know at least three working days in advance, so that this slot can be offered to another patient on the waiting list. Please contact our booking centre directly.
If you do not attend your appointment and do not let us know beforehand you will risk being discharged and may have to be re-referred. If you reschedule your appointment more than twice, you will be discharged back to your referrer.
During your appointment
When you arrive at the endoscopy unit, please go to the main endoscopy reception desk and let the receptionist know that you have arrived. You will be asked to take a seat in the waiting room for a short while.
A nurse will collect you and go through a pre-assessment check – this is an opportunity for you to ask any questions and talk through any worries, fears or concerns that you have. You will be asked to sign a consent form if you are happy to proceed.
A doctor will join you in the pre-assessment room – this is a second opportunity to ask any questions and talk through any worries, fears or concerns that you have. Sedation options are discussed and agreed with you.
Depending on the type of procedure you have been referred for, you will be asked to change into a gown and dignity shorts.
You will then walk down to the endoscopy procedure room with your nurse and/or doctor.
Once the procedure has been undertaken you will be escorted to a recovery bay.
Once you have recovered from the procedure, the team will explain the findings and you can discuss any worries, fears or concerns. You will be given a copy of your procedure report and any relevant information leaflets.
Patient information
- Understanding colonoscopy
- Understanding flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Understanding gastroscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Low residue diet
- How to take bowel prep (Klean-prep)
- How to take bowel prep (Moviprep)
- Understanding transnasal gastroscopy
- After your colonoscopy and polypectomy
- After your colonoscopy procedure
- After your endoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy
- After your endoscopy
- Understanding capsule endoscopy
- Understanding oesophageal manometry and 24 hour pH monitoring
- Understanding gastroscopy
- Understanding patency capsule test
Refer to this service
GPs: please use NHS e-Referrals to refer a patient to our gastroenterology service.
I was greeted by amazing staff who always kept checking up and updating me. They made sure I was happy and knew what was going to happen and were patient with all my questions regarding the procedure. Honestly, I felt very safe and relaxed with them - the service was 10/10.
Anonymous