Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of trained and certified colonoscopists needed to meet the demand for colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopies over the next five years.
Answered on
17 March 2015
Between May 2010 and November 2014, we have seen a 29.1% increase in consultant gastroenterologists, from 1,788 to 2,302.
A Joint Endoscopy Working Group, set up by NHS England's National Clinical Director for Diagnostics and Imaging, has been analysing the latest data, and an action plan is being developed to ensure sufficient endoscopy capacity in the short and long term. The action plan will cover a wide range of organisations including Health Education England, NHS England, clinical commissioning groups and providers of endoscopy services. Potential actions identified include: developing robust endoscopy capacity and demand data; a national workforce strategy for endoscopy; supporting the training of non-medical endoscopists; including sufficient endoscopy capacity in business planning; and identifying new pathways and models of working.
In addition NHS Improving Quality has developed The Productive Endoscopy Series, a set of self-directed learning resources that will help all staff working in endoscopy units to make better use of existing resources and deliver a more efficient and effective service to patients seven days a week.