Endoscopy services relocated to Alnwick

Endoscopy and colonoscopy services at Berwick Infirmary have become a temporary victim of the long wait for a new hospital to be built.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's 'Join Our Journey' roadshow in Berwick.Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's 'Join Our Journey' roadshow in Berwick.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's 'Join Our Journey' roadshow in Berwick.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that Berwick-based patients requring the service now have to make a 60-mile round trip to Alnwick Infirmary.

A Trust spokesman said: “The planned Berwick healthcare development will fully consider the need for an endoscopy department.

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“As part of this process, endoscopy services, which includes colonoscopy, may need to relocate to Alnwick Infirmary for the duration of the building work.

“Unfortunately the endoscopy equipment at Berwick can no longer be maintained effectively by the manufacturer.

“Therefore we made the decision to relocate the services to Alnwick temporarily to ensure our patients are provided with endoscopy services in a safe and effective environment.”

The issue was among the many subjects raised at a Northumbria Healthcare roadshow in Berwick yesterday.

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The Trust is visiting communities across Northumberland to encourage residents to give their views on the NHS.

Thanks to advances in diagnostics, medical treatments and surgical techniques, procedures which were once only carried out in specialist centres are now common place in even small local hospitals.

More care can also now be delivered closer to people; out in the community and in people’s homes.

Claire Riley, the Trust’s director of communications and corporate affairs, said: “In many ways we are already embracing many of the challenges faced by today’s NHS by harnessing new technologies and treatments and we’re leading the way nationally for integrating health and social care; with revolutionary outcomes for patients.

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“However, we fully appreciate there’s more we can do and that’s where we need your input. We’re particularly keen to hear your ideas about how we can do things differently and make the most of the resources we have.”

On the roadshows, people will be able to learn more about Northumbria Healthcare’s vision to get fit for the future by helping residents to live well, providing care and support when people need it and using resources wisely.

Roadshow dates and venues include: Belford, Market Square, today, from 10am to noon; Wooler, Cheviot Centre car park, today, from 2pm to 4pm; Bamburgh, car park opposite castle, tomorrow, from 10am to noon; Seahouses, Seafield car park, tomorrow, from 2pm to 4pm.

The Trust is keen to stress that many services are still available at Berwick.

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These include an inpatient ward, X-ray, minor injuries unit, day surgery, day hospital, oncology day unit and a midwifery-led maternity unit.

Outpatient clinics include; Abdominal aortic aneurysm; bariatric; breast; child and adolescent mental health; cardiology consultant; cardiology heart failure nurse; colorectal; colorectal nurse specialist; dermatology; diabetes; endocrinology; falls specialist; flow rate; fracture clinic; gastroenterology; general surgery; genetic medicine; inflammatory bowel syndrome; limb fitting; multiple sclerosis; lung function; nurse-led dermajet; occupational therapy; ophthamology; oral surgery; orthodontics; paediatrics; physiotherapy; plastic surgery; podiatry; pre-assessment; respiratory consultant; rheumatology consultant; rheumatology specialist nurse; sexual health; sleep clinic; speech and language therapy; stoma nurse; stroke review; urology consultant; urology nurse specialist; Warfarin clinic.