Endoscopy Procedures [Covid-19]

Self isolation: For planned endoscopy/colonoscopy procedures you will be asked to self-isolate at home for 72 hours before admission. If you are unable to self-isolate, your procedure is likely to be cancelled.

You will be asked to attend the drive through swab hub at the Keep Moat stadium in Doncaster (DN4 5JW) to have a Covid-19 swab test before your admission and unless it is extremely urgent, your treatment will only proceed if the test is negative. This will be 72 hours before your procedure and you will be asked to attend between 08:30 and 11:00 am Monday to Friday, you will also have any blood tests required at that time and you will be given any bowel preparation required for a colonoscopy procedure.

We recognise that self-isolating may be difficult for some patients and if you need some help while you are self-isolating, NHS Volunteers Responders can help you with daily tasks such as collecting your shopping or prescriptions or call you for a friendly chat. Please call 0808 196 3646 any time between 8am-8pm or visit www.nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk. There are also a number of local organisations who can help including:

• Doncaster Community Hub: This is a free service organised by St Ledger homes Doncaster, a small charge may be made for food parcels – to contact the service, call 01302 430300.
• Doncaster Community Development: This service offers help to the vulnerable and elderly for the following postcodes: DN1, DN2, DN3, DN4 – to contact the service, call 07493457936.
• Age UK: During this Coronavirus outbreak Age UK will continue to support Doncaster’s older people in their hour of need. Please call us on 01302 812345. Alternatively, you can contact us via email admin@ageukdoncaster.org.uk

Travelling from home for your planned admission

There are some important steps that you can take to protect yourself and others from the spread of coronavirus when travelling to and from your appointment and during your time in our hospitals:

If you use public transport, taxi or are being driven by someone not in your immediate house hold you must wear a mask or face covering.  A cloth face covering should cover your mouth and nose and allow you to breathe comfortably. Face coverings do not replace the need to follow social distancing rules but may prevent you passing on coronavirus before you have symptoms.

You can find instructions on how to make an appropriate face covering here.

Other top tips and essential guidance:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water: Soap and water is preferred, however use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Maintain two metres distance from people: Who are not part of your household.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth: With unwashed hands.

Before or on the day of your admission

If you or anyone in your household develops a symptom that might be related to Covid-19 in the seven days prior to your admission date, please contact us.

What to look out for:

• A high temperature – If you feel hot to touch on your chest or back and/or you have a temperature above 37.8 (if you have access to a thermometer).
• A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual).
• Any loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.

If you think you have the symptoms of coronavirus, please use the NHS 111 service by ringing 111 or via the online advice hub who can tell you if you need medical help.

Visiting guidance:

Please note, visiting restrictions are in place – view them here.

---