An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined internally using an endoscope.

Endoscopies are performed at:

• York Hospital
• Scarborough Hospital
• Bridlington Hospital  

Endoscope

An endoscope is a thin, long, flexible tube that has a light source and a video camera at one end.  Images of the inside of your body are relayed to a television screen.  Endoscopes can be inserted into the body through a natural opening, such as through your throat or anus (the opening through which stools are passed out of the body).

What happens during an endoscopy?

An endoscopy is usually carried out while a person is awake. It is not painful, but can be uncomfortable so a local anaesthetic or sedative (medication that has a calming effect) may be given to help you relax.

The endoscope is carefully inserted into your body. Exactly where it enters your body will depend on the part of the body being examined.

An endoscopy can take 15-60 minutes to carry out, depending on what it's being used for. It will usually be performed on an outpatient basis, which means you will not have to stay in hospital overnight.

For more information and to view a video visit NHS website.

Procedures

• Colonoscopy
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
• Gastroscopy
• Anorectal Physiology and Endoanal Ultrasound
• Upper GI Physiology
• PEG
• Enteroscopy
• ERCP
• Bronchoscopy
• Capsule Endoscopy
• Endobronchial Ultrasound

Meet the team (York)

York Hospital’s Endoscopy and GI Physiology unit is located at Junction 1a, First Floor.  The new unit, which opened in October 2019, is a bespoke two-storey building, incorporating seven endoscopy procedure rooms, one equipped with radiology facilities.  It also houses staff changing facilities, meeting rooms, and a seminar room with direct audio-visual links to the endoscopy rooms, to allow live steaming for training purposes.

Meet the team (Scarborough)

Access guide

Scarborough Hospital