The Chaucer Hospital
Nackington Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7AR DirectionsPhone
Opening hours
Mon - Sun: Open 24 hrs
Treating patients over the age of 18 years.
Car parking
Yes - 124 spaces.
£2 per hour
The Chaucer Hospital has a private endoscopy suite accredited by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG), offering top-tier endoscopy services to patients from Canterbury, Faversham, Dover, and beyond.
We are a beacon of healthcare excellence nestled in the historic city of Canterbury, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kent. Our state-of-the-art private endoscopy suite is JAG accredited, offering top-tier services to patients from Canterbury and beyond.
Our reach extends to local areas including Faversham, Thanet, Herne Bay, Whitstable, Deal, Wye, Ashford, and Maidstone. But our reputation for expert consultants, world-class facilities, and compassionate care draws patients from across the UK and even internationally.
We are a beacon of healthcare excellence nestled in the historic city of Canterbury, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kent. Our state-of-the-art private endoscopy suite is JAG accredited, offering top-tier services to patients from Canterbury and beyond.
Our reach extends to local areas including Faversham, Thanet, Herne Bay, Whitstable, Deal, Wye, Ashford, and Maidstone. But our reputation for expert consultants, world-class facilities, and compassionate care draws patients from across the UK and even internationally.
An endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows clinicians to examine your internal structures for diagnostic and therapeutic treatment. Our endoscopic examinations cover a wide range of specialities, including upper and lower GI (gastrointestinal), urological, bronchial, and gynaecological procedures.
Our endoscopy unit is designed to meet the highest industry standards. The layout of the unit has been approved by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG), marking our commitment to quality and safety.
During your endoscopy procedure, our expert consultants may perform a biopsy if they identify potential causes for your symptoms. This involves using small biopsy forceps, inserted through the scope, to remove tissue samples. These samples are then sent for histology to determine the cause and assess if further treatment is necessary. Our team ensures you are informed and comfortable throughout the process.
Our endoscopy unit is designed to meet the highest industry standards. The layout of the unit has been approved by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG), marking our commitment to quality and safety.
What is an endoscopy biopsy?
During your endoscopy procedure, our expert consultants may perform a biopsy if they identify potential causes for your symptoms. This involves using small biopsy forceps, inserted through the scope, to remove tissue samples. These samples are then sent for histology to determine the cause and assess if further treatment is necessary. Our team ensures you are informed and comfortable throughout the process.
The Chaucer Hospital’s endoscopy unit offers high-quality treatment and facilities, including an endoscopy theatre and an onsite decontamination service. Upon admission, you’ll be allocated a single-person room with an ensuite bathroom, providing a comfortable space for recovery post-procedure.
Our multidisciplinary team of specialist consultant gastroenterologists and general surgeons cover a range of procedures, ensuring comprehensive care for our patients.
Choose Chaucer Hospital for your endoscopy needs - where quality care meets comfort.
Our multidisciplinary team of specialist consultant gastroenterologists and general surgeons cover a range of procedures, ensuring comprehensive care for our patients.
Choose Chaucer Hospital for your endoscopy needs - where quality care meets comfort.
At Chaucer Hospital, we also offer gastroscopy services. A gastroscopy is a test to check inside your throat and stomach.
The routine procedure that typically takes about 15 minutes, although the duration can vary based on individual circumstances.
At the start of the procedure, a local anaesthetic spray is applied to numb your mouth and throat. You’ll be asked to lie on your left side and will be given a mouth guard to protect your teeth.
For your comfort, you have the option of receiving a sedative, which will help you relax during the procedure. This is administered intravenously through a cannula, a tube placed in a vein in your hand or arm. It’s important to note that this is conscious sedation, not a general anaesthetic.
Your consultant will gently insert an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera, through the mouth guard. This endoscope is guided down your throat, into your oesophagus, and then into your stomach. The camera is connected to a monitor, allowing the consultant to view your oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
During a diagnostic gastroscopy, air is blown into your stomach to allow the consultant to identify any unusual inflammation, lumps, ulcers, Barrett’s oesophagus, or blockages. If necessary, the consultant may take a small tissue sample for biopsy. This is a painless process, and you likely won’t even notice it happening.
The routine procedure that typically takes about 15 minutes, although the duration can vary based on individual circumstances.
At the start of the procedure, a local anaesthetic spray is applied to numb your mouth and throat. You’ll be asked to lie on your left side and will be given a mouth guard to protect your teeth.
For your comfort, you have the option of receiving a sedative, which will help you relax during the procedure. This is administered intravenously through a cannula, a tube placed in a vein in your hand or arm. It’s important to note that this is conscious sedation, not a general anaesthetic.
Your consultant will gently insert an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera, through the mouth guard. This endoscope is guided down your throat, into your oesophagus, and then into your stomach. The camera is connected to a monitor, allowing the consultant to view your oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
During a diagnostic gastroscopy, air is blown into your stomach to allow the consultant to identify any unusual inflammation, lumps, ulcers, Barrett’s oesophagus, or blockages. If necessary, the consultant may take a small tissue sample for biopsy. This is a painless process, and you likely won’t even notice it happening.
A gastroscopy can be an effective treatment for conditions such as bleeding varices (rupturable enlarged veins), ulcers, or a narrowed oesophagus.
Our consultants utilise the endoscope to locate the bleeding site. The bleeding can then be stopped by tying the base of the veins with a small rubber band.
If a gastroscopy is required to identify an ulcer, our consultant will take a biopsy and prescribe medication. A follow-up gastroscopy ensures the ulcer is healing.
For a narrowed oesophagus, our consultant will pass a dilation balloon through the endoscope and gently inflate it to dilate the oesophagus walls. If a stent (a hollow plastic or metal tube) is required, this will be inserted under x-ray guidance, using a gastroscope and other specialist equipment.
Treating enlarged veins with gastroscopy
Our consultants utilise the endoscope to locate the bleeding site. The bleeding can then be stopped by tying the base of the veins with a small rubber band.
Diagnosing and treating upper GI ulcers
If a gastroscopy is required to identify an ulcer, our consultant will take a biopsy and prescribe medication. A follow-up gastroscopy ensures the ulcer is healing.
Treating a narrowed oesophagus
For a narrowed oesophagus, our consultant will pass a dilation balloon through the endoscope and gently inflate it to dilate the oesophagus walls. If a stent (a hollow plastic or metal tube) is required, this will be inserted under x-ray guidance, using a gastroscope and other specialist equipment.
A gastroscopy is a day-case procedure, and you will be discharged once you have recovered from the sedative. It’s essential to have someone look after you for the first 24 hours after discharge.
Post-procedure, avoid alcohol, signing legal documents, or operating heavy machinery for 24 hours.
After the gastroscopy, you may experience a slightly sore throat, which can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Rest and hydration are recommended for 24 hours post-procedure.
If further intervention, such as biopsies, was performed during the procedure, dietary changes might be recommended by your consultant. They will provide all necessary information for this guidance.
Most patients recover quickly after a gastroscopy and can return to normal everyday activities within 24 hours.
Post-procedure, avoid alcohol, signing legal documents, or operating heavy machinery for 24 hours.
After the gastroscopy, you may experience a slightly sore throat, which can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Rest and hydration are recommended for 24 hours post-procedure.
If further intervention, such as biopsies, was performed during the procedure, dietary changes might be recommended by your consultant. They will provide all necessary information for this guidance.
Most patients recover quickly after a gastroscopy and can return to normal everyday activities within 24 hours.
In some cases, your gastroenterologist may recommend a colonoscopy on the same day as your gastroscopy. This allows your consultant to visually examine both your upper GI tract and large intestines. To view the small intestines, a separate procedure called ‘capsule endoscopy’ would be required. Your consultant will explain why a joint gastroscopy and colonoscopy may be the best choice for you.
