What we do
We provide a range of endoscopic procedures for diagnosis and treatment. The Endoscopy service at Hull includes units at both Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital. Both units carry out a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for outpatients and inpatients. We also provide Bowel Cancer Screening via the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
In our endoscopy unit, we want you to feel comfortable. Our teams are here to help, and your well-being is our top priority. Our staff aim to deliver a service which is patient centred and promotes privacy, dignity and comfort. Feedback from our most recent patient survey explains, “Everyone was kind and respectful” and “I was made to feel relaxed and the whole procedure was explained throughout”.
We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality care, we train doctors and nurses from all over the country, and we are one of England’s National Training Centres for Endoscopy and have been providing training for doctors and nurses since 1995.
We carry out procedures such as
- Gastroscopy
- ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)
- EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound)
- Colonoscopy
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
- Bronchoscopy and Endobronchial Ultrasound
- PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy)
- Oesophageal stent insertion
- Oesophageal dilation
- Capsule endoscopy
- RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation)
- BCSP (Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Colonoscopy)
- EMR (Endoscopic Mucosal Resection)
For more information, please refer to the Endoscopy Patient Information Leaflets.
What is an Endoscopy?
An endoscopy is a test to look inside your body. This procedure normally means a long thin tube, with a camera inside, called an endoscope, being passed into your body through a natural opening. The camera sends images to a screen so we can get a close look at the inside of your body. This can be done through the mouth into the stomach (gastroscopy), through the anus into the large bowel (colonoscopy & flexible sigmoidoscopy) or through the nose into the lungs (bronchoscopy). You may have a tissue sample (biopsy) taken for analysis at a laboratory.
Procedures are carried out by Consultant Gastroenterologists, Consultant Surgeons and Clinical Endoscopists. Supervised training takes place on both our sites.
Appointments
Willing to travel? You could be seen elsewhere sooner.
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust are working together under the group name of NHS Humber Health Partnership.
It you have been referred to one of our Endoscopy departments, some patients may now be offered an appointment at a neighbouring hospital to reduce the time you have to wait.
Patients being referred to Hull, Scunthorpe, Castle Hill, or Grimsby hospitals, could be invited for their procedure at any of the sites, depending on the current waiting times. However, it is only an invitation, anyone wanting to wait for an appointment at their local hospital can choose to do so.
Please be aware that certain procedures may not be available at all hospitals and may not be accessible to all patients.
If you have any questions about your procedure, medication queries, or any special requirements please contact the unit you will be attending.
If you have diabetes, take blood-thinning medications, have a pacemaker or cardiac device and have not received additional instructions 10 days before your appointment, please contact the unit you will be attending.
- Castle Hill Hospital – 01482622065 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday
- Hull Royal Infirmary – 01482885707 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday
- Bowel Cancer Screening Programme – all enquiries to 01482624139
More details on the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Endoscopy Units can be found on their website.
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact the endoscopy booking team on 01482622259 between 9am and 4pm.
Preparing for your procedure
We’ll send you a letter in the post with details of any preparation needed. Please complete a health questionnaire and bring it with you to your appointment (included with your appointment letter). Please check your letter carefully so that you know which hospital you will be attending.
Further advice on how to take the bowel preparation for colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy can be found below.
If you take medication that contains iron, stop taking these seven days before your colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Family and Friends
If you have sedation an adult friend, relative or carer must escort you home. You must also make sure that an adult stays with you for 24 hours after your procedure.
Please make sure the department has accurate contact information for your designated escort, as the nursing team will contact them when you are ready to be discharged.
If it is necessary for family or a friends to stay in the department, we kindly request that no food or drinks be consumed in the waiting area, as our patients will be fasting.
We have plenty of cafes and restaurants across our hospitals. Details of the restaurant opening hours can also be found on our website.