The Endoscopy Unit is marked on this UHW site plan.
Main entrance – walk through the Concourse area and up the flight of stairs towards the main hospital (lifts are also available to the left hand side of the stairs). At the top of the stairs follow the corridor for around 10 metres and then take the first corridor on the right hand side. The Endoscopy Unit reception is located around 10 metres down the corridor on the left hand side (next to Outpatient Cinic 18).
On arrival in the reception area please let the receptionist know your name and what procedure you are attending for. If there is nobody present on the reception desk when you arrive, please take a seat and they should be with you shortly. Toilets are available just beyond this seated area.
You will be asked to complete a white form that confirms your details including contact numbers, to ensure that our computer records are up to date. You will then be invited to take a seat in the reception area until a qualified nurse calls you. As there are several endoscopy rooms within the unit that are performing different types of endoscopy procedure you may not be called in order of arrival from the reception area.
Please note that the time on your letter is your arrival time and NOT the time of your procedure. You should expect to be within the department for several hours from the time of your arrival to the time of discharge from the unit.
A qualified nurse will call you from the waiting area into a side room to ask you some routine questions including any medical problems and medications (it is useful if you can bring a list of any tablets you take with you). After taking your observations such as blood pressure and heart rate, the nurse will have a chat with you about the procedure(s) and answer any questions you have.
If you are having a colonoscopy procedure you will be asked to get changed into a hospital gown. Toilet facilitates are available within this area. Prior to your endoscopy the endoscopist (person performing the test) will discuss the procedure with you and answer any questions you have prior to completing the consent form.
Relatives/friends are asked to remain in the reception area to maintain the confidentiality, privacy and dignity of other patients in the unit.
The nurse looking after you will bring you through to the procedure room and introduce you to the staff. You will be asked to lie on the bed and depending upon the procedure you are having, will be connected up to equipment to monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels. A nurse will ask you a few questions as part of a routine endoscopy safety checklist. The endoscopist will then give you the sedation, if requested, prior to commencing the procedure.
The time taken to perform an endoscopy procedure varies depending upon the type of test being performed and whether any treatment is required. Most patients are typically within the procedure room for approximately 15 to 40 minutes.
The endoscopist will either have a chat with you about the findings of the test prior to leaving the procedure room or in some cases after you have had time to recover and have a drink in the recovery area.
Following your procedure, the nurse looking after you will take you to the recovery area. You will typically be in this part of the endoscopy unit for around 15 to 60 minutes depending upon whether you have received a sedative medication. You will be offered a hot or cold drink and pack of biscuits. Prior to leaving the department one of the recovery staff will have a chat with you about what was found during the procedure, any follow up plans as well as offering you a copy of your report. A report will also routinely be posted to your GP and referring doctor (if not your GP).