Private endoscopy

What is an endoscopy?

An endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure in which your doctor uses something called an endoscope to look inside your body. The endoscope itself is a thin, flexible tube with a small camera and light on the end. It may also have a tiny surgical instrument on the end, if you’re having an operation. The tube is typically fed through a natural opening, such as your mouth or throat, to check internal structures and organs like your stomach, food pipe, or intestine. 

The procedure allows your consultant to see inside your body and detect any changes that may not be detected on other scans, such as an X-ray or CT scan. This is because an endoscope is typically connected to a monitor, so your consultant can see real time images of where the tube is going as they perform the procedure.

At Circle Health Group, we offer a variety of private endoscopy services across our hospitals, including colonoscopy, gastroscopy (also known as upper endoscopy), hysteroscopy and more. This page focuses on endoscopy services carried out in our endoscopy suites.  Other types of endoscopy (such as arthroscopy and laparoscopy) are covered on separate pages.

 

How much does an endoscopy cost?

The cost of your endoscopy will depend on various factors, including which type of endoscopy you are having, whether any additional procedures are included such as a biopsy, and whether it’s part of a wider treatment plan.

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 in instalments using 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.

 

What types of endoscopy are available? 

An endoscopy is a highly effective way of investigating a broad range of issues. There are many types of endoscopic procedures to help detect issues across different parts of the body, and they all use an endoscope of some form to examine inside your body. 

The endoscopies we most commonly perform in our endoscopy suites include: 

Colonoscopy 

The tube passes through your anus to look at your large intestine, also known as your colon.

Gastroscopy (upper endoscopy) 

The tube is fed through your mouth to look at your oesophagus, stomach, and the upper part of your small intestine.

Hysteroscopy 

The tube is passed through your vagina to look at your uterus.

Sigmoidoscopy (flexible sigmoidoscopy)

The scope passes through your anus to look at the lower part of your colon (sigmoid) and your rectum.

Other types of endoscopy

Endoscopy covers a broad range of procedures. Other types include:

Anoscopy 

The scope (an anoscope) passes through your anus (bumhole) to look at your anus and rectum.

Arthroscopy

The scope passes through an incision above your joint to look for damage or conditions, such as arthritis.

Bronchoscopy 

The scope passes through your mouth or nostril to look at your windpipe, also known as your trachea, and lungs.

Cystoscopy 

The tube is fed through your urethra (the tube that allows pee to exit your body) to look at its structure and your bladder.

Enteroscopy 

The scope is passed through your mouth or your anus to examine your small intestine.

Laparoscopy

The scope is fed through an incision in your abdomen to look at your abdominal and reproductive organs.

Laryngoscopy 

The tube passes through your mouth or nostril to look at your voice box (larynx).

Mediastinoscopy

The tube is fed through an incision above your breastbone to look at the area where your organs and structures sit in between your lungs, also known as the mediastinum, including your heart, oesophagus, and windpipe.

Neuroendoscopy 

The tube passes through an incision in your skull to look at your brain and the fluid filled spaces of the brain (ventricles).

Proctoscopy (rigid sigmoidoscopy) 

The scope (proctoscope) passes through your anus to look at your anus and rectum.

Thoracoscopy (pleuroscopy) 

The tube is fed through an incision in your chest to look at your lungs and the area around your lungs, including your diaphragm, oesophagus, and chest walls.

Ureteroscopy

The tube is passed through your urethra to look at the tubes that connect your kidneys to your bladder (ureters).

If you are interested in one of these other types of endoscopy, look for the dedicated page on our website, or give us a call to arrange a consultation with one of our specialists. 

 

Common conditions picked up by an endoscopy

Conditions that can be picked up during an endoscopy depend on the type of procedure recommended by your consultant, so it’s difficult to say the most common. For gastrointestinal endoscopies, some of the most common concerns investigated using endoscopy include:

• Gastro‑oesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD)
• Peptic ulcers 
• Gastritis (inflamed stomach lining)
• Coeliac disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Hiatal hernia
• Colorectal polyps
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Diverticular disease

 

What to expect at your initial consultation

During your initial consultation, your consultant will discuss your symptoms, family and medical history, as well as any relevant lifestyle habits that may impact your health.

Depending on what may be concerning you, they may ask to do a physical examination of the area troubling you. This is so they can feel for any unusual lumps, bumps, or swelling that may be a cause for concern.

Based on your discussion and any necessary physical exam, your consultant may recommend the appropriate diagnostic tests to follow up with. This may include an endoscopic procedure.
Your consultant and multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals will ensure you understand the next steps in your journey and how to prepare for your procedure.

 

Preparing for an endoscopy

Preparing for an endoscopic procedure will depend on the type of test recommended. Your consultant will give you instructions to make sure you’re fully prepared before the procedure takes place. 
It’s always important to tell your consultant about any medications you’re taking beforehand, as you may need to stop taking certain medications such as blood thinners. However, it’s important not to stop taking your prescription medication unless your consultant advises you to do so.  

You may also be asked to stop smoking, using tobacco products, or drinking alcohol before your procedure. This is because these substances can affect your side effects from the procedure and recovery.

If general anaesthetic is used during the procedure, you will need to arrange for a person to take you home, whether it is somebody you know or a taxi. This is because you won’t be able to drive home the same day due to the effects of the anaesthesia.

 

What happens during an endoscopy?

Before the procedure starts, you will be required to change into a gown and place yourself in the right position, typically on a hospital bed, according to instructions given to you by your doctor.

Depending on the type of procedure and your individual circumstances, you may be given either general or local anaesthetic before the test. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect or you are ready for the procedure, a long, thin tube with a small camera and light at the end will then be passed through either a natural opening in the body or a surgical incision made to access the body internally.
As the tube travels through the body, the camera sends video images to a screen that your doctor will observe. They can use this to make diagnosis and, where necessary, to help guide them to take tiny tissue samples (a biopsy) of the examined area or treat some internal issues, such as removing bowel polyps, using tiny tools passed through the tube.

An endoscopy typically takes 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the type of procedure. Once your doctor has obtained the images needed to help diagnose your concern, or performed any treatments needed, the tube will be removed from the body. If you have had a surgical incision made, this will be closed with stitches or surgical glue.

 

Your recovery from an endoscopy

After the procedure, you will be monitored in the outpatients ward until the sedation starts to wear off. Most patients go home on the day of their procedure, but some endoscopies require an overnight hospital stay.

If sedation is used, then transportation home will need to be arranged beforehand as you won’t be able to drive home on your own.

You may experience some side effects such as mild bloating, a sore throat (for upper endoscopy), or slight discomfort. However, these should subside throughout the day.

Your consultant will schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss any findings and what your next steps may be going forward.

 

Potential risks and complications of an endoscopy

Generally, endoscopic procedures are safe, and most people experience no serious issues. 

After the procedure, you may experience a sore throat, bloating, mild discomfort, nausea or tiredness as a result of the sedation. This should go away after a brief time.

Risks that are less common include a reaction to the sedative or anaesthetic, changes in breathing or blood pressure, infection, or bleeding, especially if a biopsy or treatment is performed. 

A very rare complication that can happen is a perforation (a hole or tear through membrane or organ tissue) during the exam, which may require further treatment or surgery.

Your individual risk depends on the type of endoscopy and any additional treatment carried out. Your medical team will monitor you carefully throughout the procedure to make sure you are as safe as possible.

 

Endoscopy FAQs

Is an endoscopy painful?

Endoscopy procedures are not usually painful; however, it can be uncomfortable. Some types of endoscopies might result in discomfort for a few days after the procedure, depending on the area being examined. For example, you may experience a sore throat a few days after a gastroscopy.

Is an endoscopy dangerous?

Generally, endoscopic procedures are safe and pose little risk. In extremely rare cases, perforation may happen during the procedure, which may need surgery to repair. This is very uncommon.

In terms of a colonoscopy, one in 400 cases experience heavy bleeding after the procedure. It is not unusual to experience some spotting following a colonoscopy, and it should go away on its own after a few days. However, if you notice large amounts of blood or black stool (poo) that won’t go away, you need to seek medical assistance straight away.

What sedation is used for endoscopy?

If you are given sedation before the procedure, you will be given an injection of one or a combination of drugs to relax and reduce discomfort during the operation.
If you want to know exactly what drugs are used for sedation, ask your surgeon before the procedure, and they can walk you through what will be used in more detail.

 

Why choose Circle Health Group for endoscopy services? 

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Transparent, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about an endoscopy, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly. 

 

Clinical sources and further reading

1. Endoscopy, NHS UK
2. Endoscopy, Cleveland Clinic
3. Endoscopy, Cancer Research UK
4. Endoscopy, Macmillan Cancer Support