For the first time, Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have opened a bowel cancer screening colonoscopy service at the Trust. Two Colorectal Consultants, Mr Pasha Nisar and Mr Prateesh Trivedi, have successfully qualified as screening Colonoscopists and our Endoscopy Unit has been accredited in recognition of its high-quality gastrointestinal endoscopy service.
This will provide a better patient experience as they won’t have to travel to Frimley Park, Royal Surrey County or East Surrey Hospitals to have their screening colonoscopies.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and unfortunately the second highest cancer in terms of mortality. Early diagnosis leads to better patient outcomes. Individuals aged 60 to 75 are sent a stool sample testing kit (FIT) every two years to look for microscopic blood in the stool. If the test is positive, they are offered a colonoscopy.
The first patients had their screening colonoscopies on 9 January 2023 and there will be one screening a week until April 2023, which will move to twice weekly thereafter.
For those who are eligible and have not received a testing kit, please see www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening for more information.
Mr Nisar said “We are delighted to be able to offer this new cancer screening colonoscopy service at the Trust to our patients. Bowel cancer is the 4th most common type of cancer in the UK and the second most common cause of cancer death. Screening helps to detect bowel cancer, or early signs of it, at an early stage and can prevent unnecessary deaths.”
Mr Trivedi said: “The aim is to find diseases (in this case bowel cancer) at an early stage where there is a better chance of a person being successfully treated. We have an excellent team in our endoscopy unit and we offer a high-quality gastrointestinal endoscopy service.”
Pictured above: Mr Trivedi and the Endoscopy Team.
