Rapid Access Endoscopy (also known as, “Open Access Endoscopy”)
Rapid Access Endoscopy (gastroscopy and colonoscopy) with Bowral Surgeons gives you the option of having a gastroscopy or colonoscopy without the need to attend a consultation before the procedure.
What is endoscopy?
Endoscopes are long thin flexible tubes that have a camera at the end. The camera transmits images to a television screen, allowing our surgeons to see the inside lining of the oesophagus (food pipe), stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small bowel) or the colon (large bowel). Fine instruments can be passed through the endoscope to allow biopsies to be taken or polyps to be removed.
Endoscopy is performed under deep sedation which is administered by a specialist anaesthetist. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (gastroscopy) allows your surgeon to look for a range of abnormalities including Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), inflammation, ulcers and tumours, coeliac disease, Barrett’s oesophagus and hiatus herniae. During colonoscopy we look for polyps, tumours, diverticulosis and signs of inflammation. Polyps that are removed at the time of colonoscopy are sent to the pathology lab for examination.
Booking a gastroscopy or colonoscopy
Our aim is to make the process as simple and as convenient as possible for patients and for referring doctors. You or your doctor can make a booking for Rapid Access Endoscopy or by contacting us by telephone on 4861 7061 or in person at 38 Bowral Street, Bowral. Our Rapid Access Endoscopy Procedures can be scheduled on Thursdays or Fridays.
Once a booking has been made
After you have made a booking for Rapid Access Endoscopy with Bowral Surgeons, our reception staff will contact you within 1-2 working days to confirm the date for your procedure. We will arrange a time for one of our doctors to call you to discuss your medical history and the details of your procedure. We will also discuss bowel preparation if you are having a colonoscopy. For your safety, it is important that you inform us about your medical history and about any blood thinning or diabetic medications you are taking.
After your telephone consultation we will send all the necessary information through by email, along with a link to the Hospital admission form (which can also be found here Ramsay Health Care - MyCare).
The hospital will contact you on the day before your procedure to discuss fasting and admission times. Ideally you should have another adult available during the preparation and recovery period and you will need to arrange someone to drive you home from hospital. You should avoid driving for 24 hours after anaesthesia.
On the day
On the day of your procedure you will be admitted to the day surgery unit, change into a hospital gown, and wait in bed. The anaesthetist will introduce themselves and talk to you about your anaesthetic. Lastly, you will meet your surgeon in person just before your procedure. The anaesthetist will give you intravenous sedation during the procedure. After the procedure you will go to the recovery ward for 1-2 hours. You will be given a drink and a snack. Your surgeon will let you know what was found before you leave the hospital and may ask you to come back to the rooms for a follow-up appointment. You will be given a copy of the endoscopy report before going home. The major effects of the anaesthetic will have worn off before your discharge, however minor effects on memory, drowsiness and other physical effects can persist for 12 – 24hours after the procedure and you should not drive, operate heavy machinery, sign any important documents or care for children during this time. A responsible adult will need to accompany you home and should remain with you for the next 12 hours. A letter will be sent to your General Practitioner after the procedure, usually after the pathology results have become available.