THE endoscopy units at Redditch, Worcester and Malvern hospitals have been awarded national accreditation for providing the highest quality of care to patients.
The recognition has come after a rigorous assessment by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) of the Royal College of Physicians and British Society of Gastroenterology.
It’s good news for the Alex which three and a half years ago was upbraided after bacteria was found in the rinse water of the unit’s decontamination machines.
Inspectors at the time noted that the machines were due to be replaced.
JAG sets out national standards for endoscopy units throughout the UK, to ensure the quality and safety of patient care.
To achieve the accreditation, the units had to demonstrate excellence across several areas – including clinical quality, patient experience and staff training.
An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined using a long, flexible fibre optic tube that has a camera at one end for diagnosis or treatment.
The units, run by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, see more than 20,000 patients every year.
