New endoscopy clinic cuts waiting lists

Official opening of Redcar's endoscopy clinic

A new endoscopy clinic has had a major impact on post-pandemic waiting lists, a doctor has said.

Dr Arvind Ramadas, at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the facility in Redcar has helped tackle backlogs in the region.

The trust said that in February 2023 only 75.7% of patients received an endoscopy within six weeks of referral, but this has jumped to 92.9%.

“There’s been a huge improvement to our waiting times,” Dr Ramadas said. “Both with our cancer waiting times and routine patients.”

The clinic at Redcar Primary Care Hospital has been running since November 2023 and sees about 40 to 50 patients a week.

People previously had to travel to Middlesbrough or Northallerton for endoscopies, but many struggled to take the time off work or pay for a long-distance taxis, said Dr Ramadas.

“In Redcar and Cleveland there is a lot of deprivation and patients find it difficult to access services, especially if they have to travel a long way," he said.

The clinic currently only runs three days a week, but Dr Ramadas said they hope to make it a full five-day service by the summer.