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, is part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Acute and Specialist Trust Alliance (CMAST) provider collaborative.
Endoscopy in Cheshire and Merseyside serves a population of 2.7 million across nine Trusts and 13 units.
The programme will be overseen by the Cheshire and Merseyside Endoscopy Network, part of the CMAST Diagnostics Programme, and the services will be provided by six of the Trusts involved in the Network including:
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- East Cheshire NHS Trust
- Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- 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.
Liz Bishop, Chief Executive, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust (CCC) and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (LHCH) and Senior Responsible Officer for the Cheshire and Merseyside diagnostics programme, said: “This is one of a number of programmes we are working on to transform diagnostic pathways and services to help improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities and shorten wait lists in Cheshire and Merseyside.
“By transforming endoscopy services and working collaboratively, we are going to be able to ensure that those who need these services will be able to access them in a timely way and therefore help people get the support they need to stay healthy and live longer closer to home.”
Tracey Cole, Cheshire and Merseyside Diagnostic Programme Manager, said: “Transforming endoscopy services is fundamental to our overall ambition of improving our diagnostic offer to the people of Cheshire and Merseyside. This programme of work will help to create truly patient focused services that are easier to access, have shorter waiting times and operate with maximum efficiency.
"There is rightly an increased demand for all diagnostic tests in Cheshire and Merseyside and so it is crucial that we work together as a whole system to ensure our services are easier to access and fit for purpose for the people that need them.”