The endoscopy unit at Airedale Hospital has been awarded accreditation following an assessment by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) of the Royal College of Physicians.
This formal accreditation is only awarded to endoscopy services that meet the highest standards - covering all aspects of an endoscopy service, including quality and safety, patient experience, and the workforce.
The endoscopy unit at Airedale provides a range of diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal (GI) procedures including gastroscopy, endoscopy, colonoscopy, and bronchoscopy.
It also hosts a bowel cancer screening programme and provides an out-of-hours acute GI bleeding service.
The Joint Advisory Group summarised in their follow-up report which commended the Airedale endoscopy team:
‘There is a strong culture of patient-focused care, the service is safe and well led, and clinical service delivery is of a high quality.
'There are excellent practices that support the service, provide opportunities for learning and growth, and are patient-focused.
There is a strong teamwork ethos, providing a conducive working environment which impacts patient care positively.’
The endoscopy team were also shown to have demonstrated excellent achievement in the following areas:
- The delivery of a pre assessment service for all patients has positively supported safe and effective care for patients, and DNA management effectively.
- The decontamination environment, processes, management and training schedule are to be commended, and reflect the services commitment to achieving and maintaining nationally recognised standards.
- Excellent and informative information booklets for patients with a suspected malignancy.
- The engagement of the Matron, who is highly visible and present, and holds regular drop-in sessions for endoscopy staff to raise ideas or concerns.
- The Clinical Educator and senior nursing team have developed an innovative learning and training system of short endoscopy videos which allow staff to readily refresh their working knowledge and train others.
- The service provides excellent opportunities for training and clinical skills development.
- Trainees are well supported which is evidenced by excellent trainee feedback.
Clinical Lead for Endoscopy and Specialist Doctor in General Surgery, Amro Alamassi said:
" We are so proud of this success.
"This well-deserved achievement was not possible without the hard work of every single staff member within the Endoscopy Unit.
"Our JAG influenced culture and the great cohesiveness between General Surgery and Gastroenterology departments were highly acknowledged by the assessors during the visit.
"What makes it really special for me is that I was trained in this amazing unit."
JAG is a national body that reviews the performance of endoscopy services across the country and helps to set and maintain national standards.
Assessment involves an independent review of factors including patient feedback, staffing, quality of care, patient comfort, training, building layout and environment, quality of equipment, cleaning standards, and the length of time patients wait between referral and a diagnosis.
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