St Mark’s Endoscopy is world renowned; being the only unit in the UK to achieve international recognition as a centre of excellence for endoscopy research and training. It was the first unit in London to be accredited as a Bowel Cancer Screening centre in 2006 and is currently one of only six pilot sites in the UK for the Bowel Scope Screening programme, delivering the national bowel cancer screening programmes to the local population.
St Mark’s Endoscopy has developed regional and national referral services for polypectomy, video capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy, and provides nationally accredited courses for the teaching and training of endoscopists. JAG-approved training courses take place in the unit throughout the year on upskilling in colonoscopy, basic skills in flexible sigmoidoscopy, training the colonoscopy trainers, and hands-on polypectomy skills. Full details of these courses, including dates and availability, can be found by visiting the JETS (Jag Endoscopy Training System) website.
Around 27,000 endoscopies are performed each year. A full range of therapeutic procedures are performed in the unit, including: colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (OGD), double balloon enteroscopy (DBE), video capsule endoscopy (VCE), polypectomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP).
Between 50 physicians, surgeons and nurses deliver endoscopy cross-site at Central Middlesex, Northwick Park and Ealing Hospitals.