Endoscopy service at Hemel Hempstead Hospital celebrates 20 years of excellence
The state-of-the-art NHS facility opened its doors in May 2005
The endoscopy service at Hemel Hempstead Hospital is celebrating 20 years of excellence, marking two decades of innovation, service expansion, and high-quality patient care.
One of the first district general hospitals in the country to launch a bowel cancer screening service, the Hemel unit has played a pivotal role in detecting and diagnosing gastrointestinal conditions across west Hertfordshire.
Since relocating to a newly refurbished, state-of-the-art facility in 2005, the service has seen significant growth in both scope and capacity.
Operating in partnership with Watford General Hospital, the Hemel unit serves as the main site for West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s bowel cancer screening service.
Although the national screening programme began in 2006 with a few pilot sites, West Herts joined the initiative in 2008.
The service has since expanded to cover a wider age range, supported by ongoing investment in staff, equipment, and facilities.
Over the past two decades, the service has focused on improving patient experience and procedural quality.
Today, over half of all diagnostic procedures and assessments are performed by a team of eight highly trained nurse endoscopists, which allows consultants to focus on more complex cases.
Dr Alistair King, consultant gastroenterologist and clinical lead for the service, commented on the team’s progress and said: "The transformation of our endoscopy service over the past 20 years has been truly remarkable, and I am proud to be part of this amazing team of healthcare professionals."
A specialist nurse-led telephone assessment service has also been introduced, allowing for quicker access to treatment.
This system helps evaluate patients’ suitability for endoscopic tests and enables rapid review of results—further contributing to the Trust’s ability to meet increasingly stringent diagnostic waiting list targets.
Despite a 6.5% year-on-year increase in demand, many patients are now triaged within a week.
Accredited by the Joint Advisory Group in Endoscopy (JAG) since 2007, the service continues to meet national standards for safety and quality.
In recent years, it has also been designated as a JAG-approved training centre, delivering a wide range of endoscopy training courses at both Hemel and Watford.
As part of the East of England Training Academy, the department supports up to 15 trainees at any one time, including those undertaking accelerated immersive training. Trainees include gastroenterology and surgical doctors learning both basic and advanced endoscopic techniques.
Joanne Sparrow, Senior Sister for the Hemel Endoscopy Unit, said: "Endoscopy is a fast-paced environment. It’s our teamwork that makes excellence possible. Every member of our team plays a vital role in ensuring patients receive safe, efficient, and compassionate care."