Bowel Cancer Screening - A Patients experience through Bowel Screening and a Colonoscopy

The video you are about to see will show you a typical patient’s experience through the Bowel Screening journey. (Updated June 2017).

The Endoscopy unit is a brand new and purpose built which centre’s around the patient’s journey having privacy and dignity zones and male and female segregation.

Currently we have 4 clinic’s and 4-5 endoscopy lists a week, all based at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital, covering a population of just over half a million patients within the screening age of 60-74 years

As you come through the hospital’s main entrance you should go straight to the main reception to check in – you will be directed to the correct clinic from there.

When you arrive at the clinic you will see a big white board telling you where your screening nurse is - just take a seat outside the room; the screening nurse will be expecting you.

The screening nurse will check your name, date of birth, address and contact number before asking a series of questions about your health, medications you may be taking and questions about your bowels.

You will then be shown a series of slides to illustrate what a polyp looks like before being told in details how to take the laxative to clear your bowel prior to the test.

The screening nurse will then go through the timings of when you need to take the laxative.

First of all you need to remove one of the packets from the box at the time stated in the instructions. Mix packets A and B together with a litre of tap water. You must drink a glass of the laxative every 15 minutes alongside half a litre of clear fluids.

Avoid taking any medication an hour before, whilst drinking the laxative, and for an hour afterwards. Remember to stay close to a toilet when you start drinking the laxative.

On arrival for your colonoscopy don’t go the main reception, instead go straight to the endoscopy department and report to the endoscopy reception. You may be with us for 2 to 3 hours so if you are being picked up, make sure they are aware of this.

You will have your details checked on arrival.

Your details will be checked by the endoscopy nurse with your blood pressure before you get ready for your test.

To ensure your privacy and dignity is respected, designated male and female changing areas are provided for you to get changed into a gown.

When you are changed the endoscopy nurse will come and insert a cannula, leaving a small plastic tube in place ready for the test.

One of the nurses from the endoscopy room room will come and collect you and you will be walked into the endoscopy room, where the screening practitioner and screening colonoscopist will be present with endoscopy nurses.

The test normally takes around 30-45 minutes on average but can take longer if a number of samples need to be collected.

Gas and air is available as an alternative to sedation. Your comfort levels will be monitored throughout, some patients find the gas and air useful alongside the sedation

Once your colonoscopy is over you will be taken to either the male or female recovery bay, where you will have your blood pressure re-checked and the cannula removed. You will be offered a warm drink and a biscuit before you get dressed.

Once you are fit for discharge the recovery nurse will walk you down to the discharge area. If you have had sedation you will need someone to take you home and stay with you for at least the next 12 hours.

The endoscopy nurse will discuss your test and you will be given written information and after care.

The screening nurse will call you the next working day to check your ID before asking how you are, and give you the opportunity to ask any further questions. Any follow up required will also be discussed.

I hope that you have found the information contained within this video useful, if you have any further questions then please call us on 01246 512197.

Further information on the Bowel Scope screening test can be found in our video: 'Bowel Scope Screening at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust' at the following link:

   • Bowel Scope Screening at Chesterfield Roya...