Endoscopy Services in Enfield

At The Cavell Hospital in Enfield, we offer private endoscopy services for patients in North London, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas. 

Our dedicated endoscopy unit is fully equipped with the latest technology and offers facilities including a procedures room, a dedicated ward area with nine en-suite patient rooms, a three-bay first-stage recovery area, and decontamination facilities. 

The unit has a calm and welcoming atmosphere and was designed with patient privacy and dignity in mind. 

Our endoscopy service has passed its JAG Accreditation at first attempt, so you can rest assured you’re in safe hands. 

An endoscopy is a procedure that allows a consultant to see inside the body. The endoscope itself is a thin, flexible tube with a camera and a light source on the end (as well as a surgical instrument, if you’re having an operation).

This procedure can be used to investigate unusual symptoms or treat a range of conditions. It can also be performed to carry out a biopsy, where a small tissue sample is taken for further analysis.

An endoscopy is an imaging technique, used to look inside the body. ‘Endoscopy’ covers any procedure where an endoscope (a thin tube with a light and camera on the end) is used to look inside a hollow organ or a cavity in your body. 

For example, they are commonly used to look inside the bowel (colonoscopy) or the intestines (gastroscopy).

Our endoscopy service is used by consultants from a range of specialities. These include: 

• Gastroenterologists
• Colorectal surgeons
• General surgeons
• Urologists

Endoscopic procedures available at The Cavell Hospital in Enfield, North London, include: 

• Colonoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Gastroscopy
• Flexible cystoscopy
• Therapeutic colonoscopy

An endoscopy itself usually takes 30 minutes or less, however you should expect to spend longer than this in total, as there will be paperwork to fill in, you may need to wait for sedation or anaesthetic to take effect, and you’ll need to stay in hospital for a while afterwards so we can monitor you. Expect to be in hospital for between 2 and 4 hours.

There are many types of endoscopy and it can be used for many different things, so it’s hard to say the most common findings overall.

With an upper endoscopy, which can examine your oesophagus, stomach and small intestine, common findings include inflammation and irritation indicative of conditions including gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

With a lower endoscopy, common findings include haemorrhoids (piles), inflammation and colorectal polyps.

The endoscopy service at The Cavell Hospital has received accreditation from the Joint Advisory Group (JAG). This is the independent regulator that assesses all endoscopy suites. 

The JAG examined the endoscopy service to make sure it was trusted, focused and sustainable and that it offered a positive experience to all patients. The Cavell Hospital passed first time. 

Achieving JAG accreditation shows that our endoscopy team offer the highest levels of patient safety at every step. 

On the final inspection, the JAG assessor said “It’s clear they have a fantastic team at Cavell, with excellent processes and great support from the hospital executive. There’s a demonstrable culture of learning, sharing and openness, and the unit itself is a bright, airy, patient-centred space. 

'I really liked seeing staff at each stage of the patient journey taking ownership and showing leadership, whatever level they currently are. I saw confidence, team spirit, knowledge and a pride in their work.'

There are many benefits when you go private with Healthcare. For example: 

• Fast access to an initial consultation and a faster treatment journey throughout
• Consultant-led care, delivered by the same people from start to finish
• Flexible appointment times, with procedures carried out 8am-8pm Monday-Friday
• A dedicated and experienced clinical team
• A more personalised experience, including a private en-suite room and meals cooked to your dietary requirements if you need to stay overnight

Accessing private healthcare is easy, whether you choose to pay directly or use private medical insurance.

If you are paying for yourself, we can usually offer an upfront cost which you can then choose to pay in full or access one of our easy payment options.

If you have insurance, we can arrange direct settlement with your insurance provider, although you should check in advance to see if your treatment is covered. For more information, visit our private medical insurance page.

To book a consultation to discuss endoscopy with a gastroenterologist near you, use our online booking system, or give us a call and one of our dedicated advisors will help you find an appointment time that suits you.

If you want to book directly into an endoscopy procedure, usually you will need a referral from a GP or other healthcare professional. Whether you are a private or NHS patient, your GP can refer you to our hospital to have your endoscopy. We will then send the results back to your GP.

If you are already a patient at Cavell Hospital and you need an endoscopy, your consultant will refer you to our endoscopy team to arrange the procedure.

If you don’t have a referral but believe you need an endoscopy, you may be able to self-refer. Give us a call and we can advise you, and if you do need a referral we can help you get one quickly.