Endoscopy Network

Endoscopy in Cheshire and Merseyside serves a population of 2.7 million across nine Trusts and 13 units.

Our portfolio of work includes projects to support agile working across Trusts, networked scheduling, reporting and imaging systems and mutual aid to ensure delivery as a system.

Endoscopy services across Cheshire and Merseyside are undergoing an extensive transformation aimed at improving waiting times, access, and the quality of services. The project, funded by NHS England, will be overseen by the Cheshire and Merseyside Endoscopy Network, and the services will be provided by six of the Trusts involved in the Network including; Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

With some services launching in April such as, centralised surveillance, bowel cancer screening, transnasal endoscopy, and pill on a string alternatives, the programme will be delivered involving four different models of care:

• Development of an additional central Hub site for endoscopy services, creating further capacity to deliver services.
• Providing service users with alternatives to endoscopy at an increasing number of locations.
• Delivering specialist procedures/advanced endoscopy at a limited number of sites to retain specialist skills and resources.
• Testing the use of innovative digital programmes to help reduce duplication of administrative processes.

The purpose of the programme is to transform endoscopy services across Cheshire and Merseyside, ensuring they are fit for purpose, that they are using the latest and best technology and to create an “endoscopy without borders” service that allows for better access.