James Paget Hospital takes part in capsule camera trials
It's hoped the tiny cameras will help replace more invasive methods.
The James Paget is among a number of hospitals trialling new capsule cameras which patients can swallow, instead of going through a more traditional colonoscopy.
Traditional colonoscopy patients have to attend hospital for the invasive procedure, but these miniature camera capsules would enable a patient to swallow the pill and go home while the test is in progress.
It's hoped the cameras will enable symptoms to be checked for cancer, whilst also avoiding invasive procedures for the patient.
The patient swallows the capsule which has two miniature wireless cameras inside that take two high quality pictures every second of the lining of the bowel to detect any sign of disease.
The images are then beamed on to a recorder that the patient wears, and once the images are downloaded and reviewed, a report is generated.
Initially only a small number of people are going to be eligible for the trial, but it's hoped eventually they could be rolled out more widely across the NHS.
Dr Rawya Badreldin, Consultant Gastroenterolgist and Endoscopy Clinical Lead at the James Paget, said; "We are very excited to be trialling this innovative technology to test and develop its use in the NHS. Cancer diagnosis and treatment is a priority as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and CCE will help support the restoration and expansion of endoscopy services during this time.
"At the James Paget, the implementation of this service is a collaboration between Colorectal surgery and the Endoscopy Unit supported by the Research department, and it's thanks to the dedication and focus of the team, made up of doctors, specialist nurses, nurse endoscopists, senior nurses, managers, administrators and our project manager, supported by our local Clinical Commissioning Group and the national team, that has made this happen."
Dr Kamal Aryal, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Clinical Lead for Colon Capsule Evaluation Project for the James Paget, said; "As an alternative to an invasive test such as colonoscopy, the patient does not need to self-isolate before the procedure, does not need Covid testing and can continue with usual medications, such as blood thinning tablets, while preparing for the test.
"We are one of the 42 trusts in England taking part in the colon capsule endoscopy evaluation project, and were the first location to start the service in Norfolk and Waveney, with our first patients being fitted with the recording device and swallowing the capsule on Wednesday, 30 June.
"I would like to thank the surgical department, our endoscopy team, Central Treatment Suite staff, Ward 9 sisters, our colorectal nurses, Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, and the national team for the pilot, as without their help this would not have been possible.
"This innovative technique will help us to move forward in providing latest diagnostic services for our patients in our community."
Mr Roshan Lal, Clinical Lead for Surgery and James Paget Cancer Lead, said; "With the hard work of Mr Aryal, Project Manager Katrina Strak, Endoscopy Lead Dr Badreldin and the whole colorectal cancer team, we were able to not only start but are first in Norfolk and Waveney to offer this non-invasive service to our local population with suspected bowel cancer symptoms.
"This is an excellent achievement due to the teamwork of everyone involved with this project.
"The addition of this service will provide an alternative test, reduce the waiting times for urgent bowel cancer referrals, and will go a long way in improving the service we provide to our local community."
The pilot is in partnership with the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System and its sister hospitals, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn, and will run for 12 months from June 2021.