Training the endoscopists of tomorrow

A national programme to train more healthcare workers in gastrointestinal endoscopy has launched at Guy’s and St Thomas’ to meet the growing demand for health professionals trained to carry out the examination.

An endoscopy is a telescopic examination of a patient’s bowels and stomach using endoscopes. Patients with a wide range of health conditions may require and benefit from the examination.

The initiative is led by Harriet Watson and Fiona Hibberts, two experienced consultant nurse endoscopists at the Trust who set up the National Nurse Endoscopist Course in 2013. Their six-day course, which involves interactive learning and simulation training, has attracted trainees not only from across the UK but also internationally.

Harriet Watson, a colorectal consultant nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’, says: “There is increasing need for trained endoscopists in the NHS. Changes such as the introduction of bowel cancer screening mean that more and more patients are having endoscopies.

“We set up our course at Guy’s and St Thomas’ so that nursing colleagues could get trained in endoscopy. The course has proved to be a great success and we’re proud that it’s now a key part of the new national pilot programme training other healthcare workers in endoscopy.”

Working in partnership with Health Education England and the Royal College of Physicians, an adapted version of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ course is now being delivered as part of the national pilot for training non-medical endoscopists.

Terri Hobbs, national programme manager at Health Education England, says: “Health Education England are very pleased that Guy’s and St Thomas’ have been able to host the first phase of the National Pilot for Non-Medical Endoscopist training programme.

“We welcome the expertise of the team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and look forward to taking the project forward with them.”