New Mobile Endoscopy Unit at Sulis Hospital Aims to Reduce Waiting Lists
In a significant move to address lengthy waiting lists for essential diagnostic procedures, a new mobile endoscopy unit near Sulis Hospital Bath will open in November 2024.
The initiative supports the Community Diagnostic Centre NHS programme aimed at enhancing access to essential medical services. The new mobile endoscopy unit will play an important role in increasing the availability of endoscopy procedures, thereby reducing waiting times and improving patient care in Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire.
Endoscopy procedures, crucial for diagnosing serious conditions such as cancer are in high demand.
The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Sulis Hospital as part of its family, secured funding to boost diagnostic capacity within the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire health region. This region currently has a significant number of patients awaiting endoscopy investigations, such as colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and flexible sigmoidoscopy procedures.
To maximise the available space at Sulis Hospital, an area within the same business park will house the mobile unit. The location is just a two-minute walk from the main hospital building.
Paul Doyle, Transformation Director, BSW Elective Care Programme commented; “The proposed mobile endoscopy unit, which is part of the Community Diagnostic Centre NHS programme, will provide much-needed extra space for essential endoscopy procedures for NHS patients.
This will benefit patients by providing faster and more convenient access to diagnostic services with quicker results leading to significant health benefits to the community. We are expecting the first patients through the doors in November.”
The new mobile endoscopy unit, which will be managed and run by Sulis Hospital in partnership with InHealth, will offer extra parking facilities with provision for three accessible bays and two cycle spaces. This development marks an important step towards improving healthcare accessibility and reducing diagnostic waiting times in Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire.
Sulis Hospital, which is part of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, is JAG Accredited for Endoscopy, as inspected by the Royal College of Surgeons’ advisory group.
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