The most urgent patients, including those with suspected cancer, are to be receive key endoscopic tests within two to three weeks under a revised endoscopy action plan published by the Scottish Government.

The plan is supported by £6m of investment and sets out steps to ensure all new patients are seen within six weeks for key diagnostic tests.

There are four key endoscopic tests - upper endoscopy, lower endoscopy, colonoscopy and cystoscopy – and this plan is a revision of the initial endoscopy action plan set out in June 2018.

Delivery of ‘new technologies, additional clinics and additional staff training’ is promised within the plan and will be key in enabling the Government and the NHS to meet waiting time commitments.

Claire Donaghy, head of Scotland for Bowel Cancer UK, said:

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackle the growing endoscopy crisis in today’s action plan. Demand for these tests in Scotland has been increasing rapidly, and this crisis is further exacerbated due to a lack of workforce capacity which is leading to patients waiting longer and health boards breaching waiting time targets.

“Currently just under half of all patients wait more than the six-week standard for tests that can diagnose bowel cancer.”

Additional actions to reduce the time patients spend waiting for an endoscopy include the implementation of revised clinical guidelines and the piloting of new technologies, such as capsular endoscopy in which patients swallow a small camera.

Ms Donaghy added: “We hope that the steps identified in this action plan will allow health boards to establish sustainable endoscopy services and ensure that the most urgent patients receive access to these tests without delay.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to implement the Endoscopy Action Plan and together we can ensure that every bowel cancer patient in Scotland has the very best opportunity for an early diagnosis.”

Head of external affairs in Scotland for Cancer Research UK, Gregor McNie, said:

“We welcome the publication of the Scottish Government’s Endoscopy Action Plan which highlights the critical role of endoscopy services in diagnosing cancer early, thereby greatly increasing the chances of effective treatment.

“Endoscopy services are currently under huge strain, so it’s vital that the plan’s connected funding and actions can support these with urgency.

“We look forward to playing our part in the monitoring and implementation of the plan so patients are seen in good time and that NHS Scotland has the capacity to meet current and future patient need.”

The two-year plan is part of the Scottish Government’s broader waiting times improvement plan, announced in October 2018 along with £850m of investment. An implementation group will be formed by Government for the plan and progress will be monitored by the waiting times improvement plan operational programme board.

Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport, Jeane Freeman, said:

“Being referred for an endoscopy can be a worrying experience, particularly if there is a suspicion of cancer. It’s vital to get a diagnosis as quickly as possible, and that’s why we want to do everything we can to speed up the process.

“Our Endoscopy Action Plan will ensure the most urgent suspected cancer patients are prioritised and health boards will be scrutinised to make sure there are no unnecessary waits.

“With new training, technologies and systems this new plan will allow the most urgent cases to be seen even more quickly. This, together with our Waiting Times Improvement Plan, will aim to reduce the amount of time people will have to wait for these key diagnostic tests.”