State-of-the-art endoscopy unit at Leicester General Hospital welcomes first patients

The unit will have the capacity to see an extra 9,000 patients every year.

A brand-new endoscopy unit at the Leicester General Hospital opened its doors to patients on Wednesday, 5 November. 

The purpose-built unit includes six procedure rooms and 20 private pods for patients before and after their procedures, each with an en-suite. 

An endoscopy is a test to look inside a patient’s body. A small camera on the end of a tube allows the clinical team to look for signs of disease and help identify issues earlier. 

The unit will have the capacity to see an extra 9,000 patients every year, which will play an important part in reducing waiting lists.   

Associate Director of Operations, Rachael Briggs, said: “We know how important earlier diagnosis is for conditions such as cancer, which endoscopy procedures help to detect. We are delighted that this new facility is open to help our teams see and treat more patients, as well as bringing some of our services closer to this area of Leicester.  

“As part of the new unit, we have used digital solutions to replace paper forms, allowing our clinical teams to have more time to care for patients. The new facility is bright, open, and modern, which will make a big difference to those working here and visiting. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this project for making it a reality. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and this new unit will go a long way towards improving their experience, and that of our team.”