THE endoscopy unit at Alexandra Hospital in Redditch has been awarded national accreditation for providing the highest quality of care to patients.
The recognition has come after a rigorous assessment by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) of the Royal College of Physicians and British Society of Gastroenterology.
To achieve the accreditation, team members at the Alex had to demonstrate excellence across several areas – including clinical quality, patient experience and staff training.
An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined by using a long, thin, flexible tube that has a camera at one end for diagnosis or treatment. The units, run by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, see around 20,000 patients every year.
Richard Lovegrove, consultant colorectal surgeon and clinical lead for endoscopy at the trust, said: “Gastrointestinal endoscopy is an extremely important tool in diagnosing cancers and pre-cancerous conditions within the bowels.
"We have an extremely busy endoscopy department and our team have been working tirelessly to meet the standards the JAG set out.
“Despite the severe challenges faced by our department during the Covid-19 pandemic, the team has worked together and persevered to ensure we continue to meet the required standards. I am delighted that we have been recognised as achieving these once again and are offering the patients of Worcestershire the best possible care. This is extremely positive feedback for our staff and service.”
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