and machines in the endoscopy suite, but each has his own job to do and is individually straightforward. The most important pieces are the endoscope itself and its accompanying operating equipment, a video screen where the pictures appear and a machine that measures your pulse and oxygen levels using a clip on your finger.

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Depending on vour symptoms, your GP may refer you to the hospital clinic for a full assessment or just for the endoscopy itself - a system known as 'fast track' or 'open access' endoscopy.

The procedure is usually carried out in a specialised unit within a hospital and takes only a few minutes. Endoscopy departments are extraordinarily busy places, however, and the check in procedure before the test and booking out after the rest may take an hour each. It is usually best to set aside the whole morning or afternoon depending on the time of your appointment. Your stomach needs to be empty for a complete test and so, for a morning test, you will be told to eat or drink nothing after your evening meal on the previous day, and for an afternoon test you should eat nothing after a light breakfast.

When you arrive at the department either a doctor or a nurse will initially direct you to a waiting area with other patients and then to an area where you can be ‘clerked in’. The purpose of this is to explain the test and to answer your questions, but also to make sure that your general health is good enough for you to undergo the procedure, although it is very rare for anyone to be considered too ill. You will also be asked to sign a consent form. When it is your turn you will then be directed to the endoscopy room itself. It is easy to be daunted by the numerous racks of equipment and machines in the endoscopy suite, but each has his own job to do and is individually straightforward. The most important pieces are the endoscope itself and its accompanying operating equipment, a video screen where the pictures appear and a machine that measures your pulse and oxygen levels using a clip on your finger.

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aces, however, and the check in procedure before the test and booking out after the rest may take an hour each. It is usually best to set aside the whole morning or afternoon depending on the time of your appointment. Your stomach needs to be empty for a complete test and so, for a morning test, you will be told to eat or drink nothing after your evening meal on the previous day, and for an afternoon test you should eat nothing after a light breakfast.

When you arrive at the department either a doctor or a nurse will initially direct you to a waiting area with other patients and then to an area where you can be ‘clerked in’. The purpose of this is to explain the test and to answer your questions, but also to make sure that your general health is good enough for you to undergo the procedure, although it is very rare for anyone to be considered too ill. You will also be asked to sign a consent form. When it is your turn you will then be directed to the endoscopy room itself. It is easy to be daunted by the numerous racks of equipment and machines in the endoscopy suite, but each has his own job to do and is individually straightforward. The most important pieces are the endoscope itself and its accompanying operating equipment, a video screen where the pictures appear and a machine that measures your pulse and oxygen levels using a clip on your finger.

This clever clip de

ening meal on the previous day, and for an afternoon test you should eat nothing after a light breakfast.

When you arrive at the department either a doctor or a nurse will initially direct you to a waiting area with other patients and then to an area where you can be ‘clerked in’. The purpose of this is to explain the test and to answer your questions, but also to make sure that your general health is good enough for you to undergo the procedure, although it is very rare for anyone to be considered too ill. You will also be asked to sign a consent form. When it is your turn you will then be directed to the endoscopy room itself. It is easy to be daunted by the numerous racks of equipment and machines in the endoscopy suite, but each has his own job to do and is individually straightforward. The most important pieces are the endoscope itself and its accompanying operating equipment, a video screen where the pictures appear and a machine that measures your pulse and oxygen levels using a clip on your finger.

This clever clip de

estions, but also to make sure that your general health is good enough for you to undergo the procedure, although it is very rare for anyone to be considered too ill. You will also be asked to sign a consent form. When it is your turn you will then be directed to the endoscopy room itself. It is easy to be daunted by the numerous racks of equipment and machines in the endoscopy suite, but each has his own job to do and is individually straightforward. The most important pieces are the endoscope itself and its accompanying operating equipment, a video screen where the pictures appear and a machine that measures your pulse and oxygen levels using a clip on your finger.

This clever clip de

and machines in the endoscopy suite, but each has his own job to do and is individually straightforward. The most important pieces are the endoscope itself and its accompanying operating equipment, a video screen where the pictures appear and a machine that measures your pulse and oxygen levels using a clip on your finger.

This clever clip device works by shining a light through the soft tissue of your finger; changes in the amount of light absorbed show how 'red' your blood is and how much oxygen it is carrying.

As well as the endoscopist, there will also be a nurse to look after you and another member of staff to assist the endoscopist. You will be asked to lie down on your left side and you will made comfortable. You may be given a sedative or have some throat spray depending on which you prefer. The nurse will then place the monitoring clip on your finger and may give you some oxygen (usually with a sponge tipped tube up your nose) before placing a small mouth guard between your teeth.

This protects both your teeth from the endoscope and the endoscope from your teeth. When ready the endoscope is will place the tip of the endoscope over your tongue and into your throat. You will then be asked to swallow and, as you do so, the oesophagus will open up allowing the endoscope to pass down into your stomach. The nurse looking after you during the test will constantly remove saliva from your mouth with a sucker much like that used by dentists, and this helps to reduce the risk of you inhaling any fluid. You will be able to swallow with the tube in your throat, but fluid can collect in your mouth because the tube holds open the oesophagus, allowing liquid to reflux up from your stomach. Once the endoscope is in p