Endoscopy

Newcastle’s Endoscopy Service provides specialist screening for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of disorders affecting the digestive system.

Our experienced team of medical and nursing specialists carry out over 15,000 endoscopic procedures every year.

They are committed to providing you with the very best care, in a safe and comfortable environment.

We have endoscopy units at both the RVI and Freeman Hospital, where our clinicians provide rapid diagnosis of your condition, as well as many types of endoscopic treatment.

Specialist care

Wherever you live in the North East your GP can refer you to our service for investigation of your symptoms.

We are the only hospital in the North East to regularly carry out certain highly specialist procedures, such as endoscopic ultrasound, spyglass examination of the bile ducts, balloon enteroscopy, and Barretts radiofrequency ablation.

This means we receive referrals from doctors at hospitals across the region for complex gastro-oesophageal (gullet and stomach) and hepatobiliary (liver, pancreas and bile duct) disorders.

Endoscopic procedures

Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Examination of the lining of your gullet, stomach and first part of your intestine by a flexible tube with a small camera on the end

Colonoscopy

Examination of your large bowel by a flexible tube with a small camera on the end

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

Examination of lower bowel by a flexible tube with a small camera on the end

Balloon Enteroscopy

Allows a greater length of small bowel to be examined and treated

Endoscopic Ultrasonography

Examination of the lining of your gullet, stomach pancreas and bile ducts by a flexible tube with a small camera and ultrasound scanner on the end. It can be used to get samples of abnormalities noted in other scans

ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography)

This is a procedure used to remove gallstones from the bile duct and also to treat some types of jaundice caused by tumours

Capsule Endoscopy

Pill sized camera examination of the small bowel and in certain situations the large bowel

Bronchoscopy

Examination of your lung by a flexible tube with a small camera on the end

EBUS (Endobronchial ultrasound)

Similar to endoscopic ultrasound used to examine the lungs with a biopsy

Following diagnosis of your condition, some types of treatments may be performed endoscopically. Your treatment options will be discussed with you by your doctor or nurse endoscopist.

We also provide a specialist Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) service for people who need to be tube-fed directly into the stomach though the abdominal wall.