Our mission is to provide the best possible experience when you have your endoscopy.
We want this to be as comfortable and reassuring as possible. Our team are available to provide as much information as you need. We want you to understand everything that will happen while in one of our units.
Our locations
We have endoscopy units on 5 sites:
Wansbeck - read the guide to our unit
North Tyneside - read the guide to our unit
Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital
We will have an endoscopy unit at the new hospital in Berwick.
Our procedures
The procedures we do include:
- Gastroscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Bronchoscopy
- ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
- Therapeutic endoscopic procedures
- Emergency endoscopy procedures
This is what you can expect when you come for your procedure.
Different procedures may have different preparation. We will explain this to you.
When you arrive, our reception staff will check your details are correct. We will ask you to wait in the waiting room until our nurses are ready for you.
A nurse will introduce themselves. They will invite you into a private room to go through documents.
You may need to get changed depending on your procedure. We will check your blood pressure and pulse. We will ask you to sign the consent form. We will then show you to a bed area until it is time for your procedure.
The nurse taking care of you will take you to a procedure room. You will meet the endoscopist. We will make more safety checks before doing the procedure.
After your procedure, we will take you to a recovery area. Once recovered, we will give you your discharge information in a private room. You can then go home. You may need a responsible adult with you.
What is an upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy)?
An upper GI endoscopy, also called a gastroscopy, is a test that lets us look inside your throat, food pipe, and stomach.
It helps find out what might be causing the symptoms you are having.
How is the test done?
A nurse or doctor will gently pass a long, thin, flexible tube into your mouth. The tube has a small camera on the end. It goes over the back of your tongue, down your throat, and into your stomach.
Sometimes we take a small sample of tissue, called a biopsy. We send this to the lab for testing.
Will I gag during the test?
You might gag a little as the tube goes in. We will help make you feel as comfortable as possible. We use a numbing spray on the back of your throat to help.
A nurse will stay by your side to help you with your breathing and keep you calm.
Will I be asleep for the test?
Most people stay awake during a gastroscopy. We will not put you to sleep unless your doctor says you need a general anaesthetic. If that happens, your test will take place in the theatres department.
What if I feel nervous?
If you are anxious, we can give you conscious sedation. This is a small injection into your hand or arm that helps you relax. It is not a general anaesthetic, so you will still be awake. It can have an amnesic effect for 24 hours. This means it may affect your memory.
If you have sedation, you must have someone to take you home and stay with you for 24 hours. During this time, you should not drive, sign important papers, or do any work or DIY.
Will the test hurt?
The test is not usually painful. You may feel discomfort as the camera passes over the back of your tongue. This usually settles quickly.
Afterwards, you might feel a bit bloated. That feeling usually goes away soon after the test.
When can I eat and drink again?
Everyone is different. But most people can eat and drink about 30 minutes after their gastroscopy.
If you had sedation, your recovery might take a little longer.
Why do I need to have an empty stomach?
Your stomach needs to be empty so we can see clearly. If there is food or liquid in your stomach, we may not be able to see everything we need to. You may need to come back for another test.
From 6 hours before your procedure, please only drink clear fluids. This means water or black tea / coffee (without milk). You should eat and drink nothing (nil by mouth) for 2 hours before.
What should I do about my medication?
If you take regular medication, please get in touch to check what to do before your test.
It is especially important to tell us if you take medicines such as insulin or blood thinners.
You can find the team’s phone number on your appointment letter or on this page in the Contact us section.
- Dr Tom Lee - Endoscopy Clinical Lead/Consultant Gastroenterologist - 0191 293 2576
- Kiran Kullar – Operational Services Manager – 0191 239 4324
- Sandra Marshall – Endoscopy Matron - 07554 770928
- Leigh Donnelly – Education and service development lead - 01670 529309 or 07973 761947
- Kirsty Harrison - Unit Manager Wansbeck – 01670 529063
- Jill Gascoigne – Unit Manager NTGH – 0191 349 9671
- Paula Clarke - Unit Manager Hexham – 0143 465 5323
- Tracey McCann - Unit Manager Alnwick - 01665 626794
