CIRENCESTER hospital has received a new, state-of-the-art endoscopy equipment thanks to a local community charity.

Members of Cirencester Hospital League of Friends have funded a new £18,000 endoscopy system, which is now in daily use at Cirencester Hospital - part of Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined using an instrument called an endoscope - a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light source and camera at one end - with images of the inside of your body then relayed to a television screen.

The endoscopy system funded by the League of friends is called the Olympus 290 Elite video system, and it comes complete with monitor and screen, and has been in use for almost two months now.

Sister Janet Gale of Cirencester Hospital said: “It is a much more up-to-date version of the system we had previously."

"The images are much clearer, which is the main reason why we had to replace the old unit.

“As well as improved imagery, the new endoscopy equipment is wireless, meaning the various elements of the unit can talk to each other."

"Also, the number of trailing cables is dramatically reduced, making it easier and far more efficient to operate, plus it has a second monitor.”

The vital medical equipment means the endoscopy unit has two monitors, rather than just the one, helping the team to be able to now position one monitor at either end of the patient, so they can see exactly what’s going on.

Sister Gale said: “From the patients’ point of view they love the second screen."

"When carrying out a colonoscopy, a patient is turned several times - also, when it comes to procedures such as gastroscopies, when we had just the one screen a patient might not necessarily be lying facing the monitor."

"The second screen means they can see what’s going on whichever side the unit is on.”

The hospital’s Endoscopy Department is busier than ever, having recently taken on additional activity, meaning more patients can be seen locally.

Cirencester Hospital’s Matron, Linda Edwards, said: “We are delighted with the new equipment and very grateful to the League of Friends for their very generous donation.

“We are a Joint Advisory Group (JAG) accredited endoscopy unit, which means we meet the national standard which guarantees the provision of exemplary care.”

“So we’re pleased that this new equipment will enable us to continue to provide the excellent endoscopy service here at Cirencester Hospital.”