If you want to discuss any aspect of your endoscopy experience including any concerns relating to your care then please don’t hesitate to contact the endoscopy manager on 01271 349180

Or email via the reception team rduh.endoscopy-reception@nhs.net

General questions

If you want to discuss any aspect of your endoscopic procedure, please contact the endoscopy nursing team. We will be happy to talk you about any aspect of your procedure.

We are here Monday to Friday, from 8am to 18:00 (with the exception of bank holidays)

Tel. 01271 349180

Pre-assessment

Email the pre-assessment team on ndht.endoscopypreassessment@nhs.net or leave them a message via the number above and someone will get back to you as soon as they can.

Appointments

Queries about booking appointments, cancellations and appointment changes should be directed to the Admin team.

Tel: (01271) 370214 Monday – Friday 08:00 – 16:30. This has an answering machine connected. We aim to action all queries within 24 hours during the working week.

After your procedure 

If you experience any problems or symptoms after your procedure,  please telephone the endoscopy unit between 8am to 6pm 

If you experience any of the following symptoms please attend the Emergency Department:

• Severe abdominal pain (not cramp caused by trapped wind)
• Passing a sudden, large amount of blood
• A firm swollen abdomen with or without vomiting

Alternatively, call your GP or If you require advice out of hours call 111

Level 0, Endoscopy (Gemini)

North Devon District Hospital

Raleigh Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 4JB

Please note that there is an endoscopy patient drop-off parking space near the entrance.

If the Doctor has asked to see a patient’s large bowel, (colon) in order to get a view they will need to take a strong laxative.

To ensure this is safely done the pre assessment team speaks to the patients to assess whether the patient is able to have the preparation using questions about their health, mobility and any medications they are taking.

The pre assessment takes between 10 and 20 minutes and is performed over the telephone. Occasionally it is necessary for the patient to attend the unit to have the pre assessment.

Once the pre assessment is successfully completed the team member will send the sachets of preparation to the patient in the post along with instructions on how to take it.

If there are any further questions regarding your bowel preparation or procedure, please contact the pre-assessment team by emailing them at rduh.endoscopypreassessment@nhs.net or alternatively you can leave them a message on (01271) 349180 and a member of the team will get back to you.

We have a large team within the Endoscopy Unit. 

Our team includes core decontamination staff, assistant technical officers, senior technical officers, assistant practitioners and registered nurses.

Everyone in our team is highly skilled, carrying out a range of roles, including cleaning and processing used scopes, admitting and preparing patients for procedures, assisting endoscopists with procedures, providing support to patients during procedures and recovering sedated patients.

We also work with Biomedical Scientists and Radiographers during some procedures.

Our nursing staff are divided into specialist teams. We also have nurse endoscopists working within our department.

Northern services

Consultant Gastroenterologists:
Dr Andrew Davis

Consultant Colorectal Surgeons:
Mrs Katie Cross- Lead for Surgical IBD

Nurse Endoscopist
Tanja Brackenbury

Clinical Nurse Specialist- IBD Gastroenterology
Monica Chan

Nutrition Nurse
Stephanie Foster

Medical Secretaries/ Administrative Support
Adele Atherton
Kelly Adams
Barbara Saunders

Respiratory Physicians

Dr Alison Moody – Consultant Physician

Dr Georgina Hands – Consultant Physician

Dr Jareer Raza – Consultant Physician

Both the bookings team and the pre-assessment nurses will aim to ensure your endoscopy appointment is booked and tailored to your individual needs.

If a pre-assessment is required for your procedure, this will usually take place over the telephone.

The admitting nurse will ask about your past and present medical conditions and the telephone number of the person driving you home and staying with you to provide the overnight care. We will also need to know what medications you are currently prescribed. Please bring a list of your medications with you.

Your appointment letter will ask you to contact us if you have any of the following;
if you take any blood thinning medication listed below:

• Warfarin, Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, Edoxaban.
• Aspirin (this does not need usually need to be stopped for endoscopy)
• Clopidogrel (Plavix), Ticegralor (Brilligue), Dipyridamole (Persantin), Prasugrel (Efient), Acenocoumarol (Sinthrome)
• Heparin (usually injected under the skin)

If you are Diabetic, and / or have a pacemaker or any other heart / cardiac implanted device.

If you need to cancel or re-arrange your appointment please call (01271) 370214 between 08:00 and 16:30 Monday to Friday. This has an answering machine connected. We aim to action all queries within 24 hours during the working week.

If you need to call regarding medications etc. then please call the endoscopy unit on 01271 349180

Alternatively email ndht.endoscopy-reception@nhs.net

We are here Monday to Friday 08:00 – 18:00

If you have a question for the pre-assessment team you can either leave a message with the reception team or email ndht.endoscopypreassessment@nhs.net

Once the procedure has been completed, you will be transferred out to the recovery area.

Referral for Upper GI Endoscopy
For Suspected Cancer (2 Week Rule)

We produce a wide range of leaflets which provide information about our services and about the treatment you might receive in our clinics or during your stay in hospital. 

We also produce these in different formats including large print, please contact the department you are visiting for more information.

Please note that the leaflets are currently under review. 

Find out more