Endoscopy services to be restarted within months

Routine endoscopy appointments which were cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic are due to be restarted with patients receiving appointments over the following few months.

These appointments, including colonoscopy, will now start to be scheduled but with a number of processes in place to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

Dr Crawford McGuffie, medical director NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said: ‘While we have now restarted endoscopy services, we have had to look at how we deliver those services. This is not only to ensure patients get the treatment they need, but also to ensure that staff and patients are safe.

‘Those attending for an appointment will see that we have a reduced number of rooms and recovery space available, and we can’t see as many patients every day. So, we are currently focusing on the most urgent cases first.

‘If you were referred urgently, you can expect to be contacted within the next three months. Your appointment might be at a different hospital than where you were expecting to attend. If yours is a routine referral, you may need to wait a little longer.’

A new requirement to attend an appointment will be a Covid-19 test.

This will be arranged and may also require self-isolation for a period of time. If anyone requires a fit note for work to confirm this, they can contact the the endoscopy office on receipt of an appointment letter.

If anyone is unable able to attend an appointment, they should contact the office to let it know so that staff can allocate the appointment to another patient.

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Advice is to attend as close to an appointment time as possible – don’t be late, but also don’t arrive early. If anyone has a relative or friend accompanying them, they will not be able to wait in the hospital, but when ready to go home the department will call them, and take patients to the exit to meet them.

Dr McGuffie added: ‘We will have infection control measures in place, including physically distanced waiting areas, staff in personal protective equipment and hand washing facilities. We will also check your temperature before your appointment. And don’t forget to wear a face covering or mask to your appointment.’

A series of information leaflets and short videos are available. Visit https:// www.nhsaaa.net/caring-for-ayrshire/ endoscopy/ to find out more.