Private Endoscopy Service Darlington

At Woodlands Hospital in Darlington, we offer a private endoscopy service to patients based in Darlington and further afield.

Our team of specially-trained practitioners work with Consultant Surgeons and Urologists to carry out diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures. 

What is an endoscopy?

An endoscopy is carried out to examine inside the body. Using a thin, long tube called an endoscope, a specialist can get a better look at what's going on in different organs by capturing images or videos.

The different types of endoscopy

There are numerous kinds of examinations that fall under 'endoscopy'. These include, but are not limited to:

• Colonoscopy: An examination of the large intestine (colon).
• Cystoscopy: An examination of the bladder.
• Upper endoscopy: An examination of the oesophagus, stomach and the upper part of the small intestine.
• Hysteroscopy: An examination of the uterus.
• Laparoscopy: An examination of the abdomen and reproductive organs.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy: An examination of the lower part of the colon and rectum.
• Rigid sigmoidoscopy: An examination of the anus and rectum.
• Ureteroscopy: An examination of the tubes connecting the kidney and bladder.

• Gastroscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Flexible cystoscopy
• Rigid cystoscopy
• TRUS biopsy
• Hysteroscopy
• Polypectomy

For more information around our private endoscopy service, please give our friendly Patient Liaison Officers a call on 01325 341786.

Alternatively, if you would like to book a consultation with one of our specialists, please find more information here.

They will most likely want to know:

• What symptoms have you been experiencing?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Can you describe the pain? Is it a stabbing pain or is it more constant?
• Have your symptoms become progressively worse?

Depending on your symptoms, your consultant may want to carry out an endoscopic procedure. If this is the case, your consultant will see you again after the procedure to talk about the diagnosis if it is clear. They may also make plans for further diagnostic tests and next steps if the diagnosis is not clear at this stage.

Ultrasound and MRI scans are available from our on-site imaging department, should they be needed.

Whatever your condition, your consultant will produce an informed treatment plan, personalised for your needs.

Throughout your entire private journey at Woodlands Hospital, our friendly Patient Liaison Officers are on hand to support you. They are able to offer advice on costs, the treatment pathway, and act as a point of contact between yourself and the hospital. If you need to contact them at any time, please call their direct line on 01325 341786.

• Assessments ASAP – If you’ve got to the point where you are considering medical intervention, you won’t want to wait for an appointment. By seeing patients rapidly, our consultants can accurately diagnose you and get you started on the right course of treatment as soon as possible.
• Patient satisfaction – 98.1% of patients in 2024 said they would be likely or extremely likely to recommend their consultant to their friends or family. 96% also said that their overall experience of the nursing care was very good or excellent. We aim to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, and these results highlight our continued efforts to ensure this is achieved.
• Personalised care – We believe in a bespoke approach to treatment, tailoring each experience to our patients’ needs and whatever may be best for you. This is regularly reviewed, ensuring you get the necessary treatment at every stage of your patient journey.
• A multi-disciplinary approach – Our teams at Woodlands work in tandem with each other to provide you with the best possible care from start to finish. Working closely with specialists in general surgery, gynaecology and urology, as well as a dedicated team of radiographers, physiotherapists, anaesthetists, and nurses, you have support from medical professionals every step of the way during your treatment.
• Convenient appointments – With appointments available throughout the day from Monday-Friday, you are sure to find an appointment slot that suits your needs and availability.
• Park with ease – We know that parking should be the least of your worries when attending hospital, so our car park has ample space to accommodate your needs. This also includes 4 electric vehicle charging points. Alternatively, we are very close to Darlington Railway Station, should you wish to visit us by train. We are also a short walk from multiple bus stops, including Morton Park Way (Morrisons) and Yarm Road.

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. There are usually only three steps to accessing private treatment using insurance:

• Speak to your GP: Let your GP know that you have private medical insurance during your appointment with them. Ask them to refer you to Woodlands Hospital, and in you have already chosen which consultant you would like to see, let your GP know their name so they can give you a specific referral letter. The letter should include the hospital and consultant name, as well as the recommended treatment. Your GP can also give you a referral letter with no specified consultant.
• Speak to us: Once you have your referral letter from your GP, give our friendly Patient Liaison Officers a call on 01325 341786. If your GP gets in touch with us directly with your referral, we will be in touch with you.
• Speak to your insurer: After speaking to your GP, ensure that you call your insurer and activate your insurance. Have your insurance details to hand when you call, as they will need it to confirm that the treatment you need is covered by our policy. If the treatment is not covered but you would still like to go private, you can explore alternative methods.

For more information, visit our private medical insurance page.

Getting to us

We are located on Morton Park Way, opposite Dunelm and Premier Inn and over the road from Morrisons. Darlington Train Station is approximately 3.5 miles away and there is a taxi rank at the station with cabs available throughout the day. We are also a short walk from numerous bus routes, with stops at Morrisons and on Yarm Road. We are a short distance from local attractions such as Hopetown, the brick train sculpture and the Hippodrome.

We have free parking available on-site, with 4 electric vehicle charging points. The hospital has an accessible entrance, however please do let a member of the team know if you require a wheelchair and one of our friendly porters can assist you into the building.

Your stay with us

Each of our rooms feature an en-suite for added comfort and privacy. The rooms are spacious with a remote controlled TV and free Wi-Fi available during your stay. Our catering team are on-hand to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at regular mealtimes. We offer a range of choices available, please do let us know of any special dietary requirements you have prior to your admission.

Other facilities at Woodlands Hospital

As well as offering surgery, we have a number of fantastic facilities on-site at Woodlands.

Our physiotherapy department consists of many experienced senior physiotherapists with a range of clinical interests including hand, women's health and men's health. We also have a fully equipped gymnasium, including an anti-gravity treadmill, exercise bike and numerous weights. The team will work closely with you to reach your goals, and you can self refer to book an appointment. If you're interested, please give the team a call on 01325 341712 and choose option 2.

We also have imaging facilities on-site, including a wide-bore MRI scanner, x-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and access to a CT scanner. Please note: appointments for any imaging service at Woodlands Hospital can only be made once the department receives a referral from a GMC-registered consultant. For more information, please give our friendly enquiry team a call on 01325 968 195.